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

Chapter 200 The Little Things About Being an Official!
"Tap...tap...tap..."

The sound of official boots, neither hurried nor slow, broke the stagnant atmosphere in the hall, approaching from afar and piercing straight through the thick cotton curtain.

With a "whoosh," the curtain was lifted, and a bone-chilling cold, carrying fine snowflakes, swirled and rushed into the warm room.

The red-hot charcoal fire in the basin was jolted by the cold wind, and with a "poof," the flames suddenly shrank by half, flickering a bluish-green, just like the imposing presence of the inner hall of the court, its light dimming and revealing a sense of emptiness.

The visitor was none other than Xia Longxi, the Chief Judicial Officer.

He wore a slightly worn official robe, over which he was wrapped a black sable fur coat. The glossy fur at the collar clung tightly to his puffy, swollen face.

Xia Longxi lifted her eyelids and met Ximen Da Guanren's charming eyes, which were both smiling and subtly wicked.

Looking at that handsome, young, and dashing appearance, Xia Longxi touched his own aging, oily face. The feeling in his stomach immediately churned, a mixture of all sorts of emotions, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy.

Although Xia Longxi was not a native of Qinghe, Qinghe County was conveniently located between the capital and Qingzhou, making it easy to travel between the two.

Throughout the year, I inevitably have to come here to oversee official business for several months.

The name of Master Ximen was as loud as thunder in Qinghe County!
How could Xia Longxi not know this?

Even when Ximen Qing received the honorary title of Grand Secretary of the Xianmo Pavilion and opened his silk shop, although he sent his subordinates to prepare a decent congratulatory gift to make a good impression, he never really took it seriously!

In this world, fortune truly changes like the wheel of luck; no matter how thick the bricks, no matter how thin the tiles!
Who would have thought that yesterday's commoner was a powerful figure on the ground, but today he has transformed into an equal colleague in his own government office!

The world turned upside down so quickly that it dazzled the eyes, and the indescribable feeling in one's heart grew stronger.

Among all the various judicial offices, the newly appointed Master Ximen is quite an anomaly.

From humble beginnings, he rose to such a prestigious and powerful position, a position that combines both civil and military authority!
Ordinary people wouldn't know the intricacies of this; they only know it's about the prestige and power of a fifth-rank official.

Xia Longxi, however, was different.

He himself came from a family with a military background and had passed the military examination to become a military scholar. He knew all too well how dirty and hard-won this fame and position were!

It was truly a case of sweat pouring out like water, and money spilling out like water!

In order to obtain a position through hereditary privilege and to transition from a military to a semi-civilian role, he had to spend countless sums of money and pull many strings to barely squeeze into this semi-civilian, semi-military post.

Although the martial arts exam is not as prestigious as the humanities exam, when it comes down to it, it is actually a few times more difficult than the humanities exam!
Not only must one be skilled in archery and horsemanship and proficient in weaponry, but one must also be able to discuss military strategy on paper and be tested on the tactics of those who talk about war on paper.

It's truly like a thousand troops squeezing onto a single-plank bridge!

Not to mention the years of hard study, one also has to train hard in the coldest and hottest winters and summers. Nine out of ten times, all that effort is wasted, with only a faint glimmer of hope remaining.

The number of places in the provincial examination for military officers was even more competitive!

In this vast country, the examination is held only once every three years, and in total, only 840 martial arts candidates are selected.

Being in Hebei was a great favor from the emperor; to be allocated 120 vacancies was a unique privilege in the land.

Other routes probably won't even reach a fraction of this!

This is just the provincial examination; even if you pass, you'll only become a military officer.

The imperial examination three years later was even more difficult, with only about 120 people passing.

If one's ancestral graves emit auspicious smoke and one becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, one can obtain the rank of a third-grade military officer.

Those who ranked second or third in the imperial examinations were merely guerrilla commanders of the third rank or military commanders of the fourth rank.

Even the lowest-ranking martial arts graduate in the top three, if he ever made it to the top, would only become a sixth-rank military officer, and he would still have to be subservient to his superiors!
Xia Longxi had worked hard to obtain the title of Military Scholar, and with the help of his family's inherited privileges and connections, he managed to secure a civil official position.

Even so, they were still regarded as filthy by those arrogant and noble civil officials, and could only humbly squeeze into the semi-civilian, semi-military, middling prison to scavenge for scraps.

This Mr. Ximen in front of me is quite something!

First, he obtained the prestigious but empty title of Academician of the Xianmo Pavilion to save face. Now, out of nowhere, he has been promoted to Deputy Commander of a Thousand Households and obtained a real position of the fifth rank, all thanks to his status as a commoner and dissolute man!
He actually outshone that serious scholar-official, a third-class military graduate who had been working hard all his life!

This absurd logic is impossible to explain even to the King of Hell! Who wouldn't be filled with hatred, their eyes bloodshot and their teeth itching?

Xia Longxi pondered this slowly along the way.

Rumors circulating in the Ministry of Personnel in the capital say that this high-ranking official is holding a note personally written by Grand Tutor Cai regarding his appointment.

Xia Longxi's stomach was churning with turmoil. He wished he could crawl into Ximen Qing's heart and liver to find out the truth: what kind of high-ranking official Ximen Qing had done to climb to the top and become as rich and powerful as Grand Tutor Cai?

His own family had also sought connections with Grand Tutor Cai!
But in this world, how many flies and dogs like him are trying so hard to get in!

After much effort, they managed to slip the gift to the threshold of the Grand Tutor's mansion, only to have it returned untouched by Steward Qu!
Needless to say, it must be those little yellow and white things that the Grand Tutor wouldn't even look at!

He really wanted to grab Ximen Qing by the collar and get to the bottom of it: You scoundrel, how much silver did you pour in, how many mountains of silver did you empty? How did you manage to pry open Grand Tutor Cai's teeth and get him to accept it? How did you manage to pave this damn ladder to the top?
It completely overshadowed the hard work and sacrifices of half a lifetime—cramming through dog holes, forcing smiles, and going bankrupt!

"Your humble servant Ximen Qing greets Lord Xia." Ximen Qing's clear voice cut through the crackling of the charcoal fire, startling Xia Longxi awake.

The official bowed with his hands clasped, his movements swift and decisive.

"Oh! Lord Ximen! I've been waiting for you!" Xia Longxi's face instantly broke into a warm smile, as if that smile could dispel the cold.

He hurriedly put down the hand warmer, awkwardly stood up, took two steps forward to greet him, and extended his thick palm in a gesture of support. "In such freezing weather, it must be hard for Lord Ximen to take up his new post! Please have a seat! Someone, bring hot tea! Let Lord Ximen warm up!"

The two men sat down, one above the other. An indescribable chill seemed to spread as soon as Ximen Qing sat down, silently clashing with the warmth of the charcoal fire.

Xia Longxi's narrow, squinting eyes silently and meticulously traced Ximen Qing's entire body.

Finally, his gaze, as if drawn by a magnet to fine iron, instantly and firmly fixed itself on the belt around Ximen Qing's waist! It could not be moved an inch further!
What a dark, glossy rhinoceros horn band!

In this dimly lit hall, the wooden panel faintly emitted a warm and restrained light, clearly not a common object found in the marketplace!

The belt is thick and sturdy, with cloud and thunder patterns carved on it. The patterns are simple and intricate to the extreme. Every line exudes a strong and powerful force, weighing down with nobility and majesty, which goes straight into people's eyes.

Xia Longxi's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been stung hard by a scorpion's tail! He had been navigating the corrupt world of officialdom for decades, and his insight was incredibly sharp and ruthless!

This is no ordinary dry rhinoceros horn! It's clearly a water rhinoceros horn, also known as the "heavenly rhinoceros" by experts!
The texture is as fine as a newborn baby's hair. What's even more amazing is that there seems to be a mysterious light flowing on the dark background, appearing and disappearing—it is the legendary "perfectly transparent" top-grade product that is priceless!
Such rare items are simply impossible to find even if you have money!
To put it bluntly, only princes and other high-ranking officials are entitled to enjoy it!
Unless one has extensive connections and deep roots in the mansions of the most powerful noble families, there is absolutely no way one could openly wear such an item around their waist!
All the scheming thoughts that had been swirling in his mind along the way vanished the moment he saw Ximen Qing's imposing presence, especially the dazzling rhinoceros horn belt around his waist, replaced by a certainty of certainty.

But within this certainty mingled a trace of heart-wrenching jealousy, and... a heavy sense of awe that even he himself was unwilling to admit, which made his back seem to soften a little.

It seems that the reason why this Master Ximen was able to buy this official hat from Grand Tutor Cai is not only because of the connections of the Grand Tutor's mansion, but also because of the support of powerful and influential noble families!
How shrewd was Ximen Da Guanren? He had already caught Xia Longxi's movements out of the corner of his eye. When he saw Xia Longxi's eyes suddenly change when they swept over his belt, he immediately understood!

This belt was a "gift" that Madam Lin hurriedly sent to her godson, Wang Sanguan, shortly after she delivered Jin Chuan'er to Wang Zhaoxuan's residence last night, when she received news that her husband had risen to a high position.

Wang Sanguan immediately prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, and said, "This is my family's most treasured heirloom, a royal treasure! My mother said it should be presented to a wise and powerful man like my godfather, as it is worthy of the dignity of a new official taking office!"

It seems that this old saying is absolutely true: clothes make the man, a saddle makes the horse, and a bell makes the dog run happily!
His boss, who had just been wearing a cold and unyielding expression, changed his face faster than the weather in June when he saw the rhinoceros horn belt!
"Lord Ximen is truly... a man of extraordinary bearing and bearing!" Xia Longxi put down his teacup and chuckled twice. The laughter sounded somewhat abrupt in the empty hall, and his tone carried a clear hint of probing and sourness.

The official smiled broadly, his voice filled with enthusiasm: "Lord Xia! Please forgive me! I am honored by the court's favor to serve as your deputy. I should have gone to Qingzhou to pay my respects and receive your guidance. However, I am new here and never expected that you would come to Qinghe! I beg your forgiveness!"

Xia Longxi hurriedly returned the greeting, his chubby face crinkling into smile lines, but his eyes were narrowed and his voice was loud and clear, revealing "sincerity":
"Lord Ximen! What are you saying! You have just been promoted and are riding high. There are many things to do in the government office, so naturally you have to take care of them."

“We both work in the same judicial office, and we're like brothers working together. Why be so formal? We'll be seeing each other every day for a long time to come, so why stand on ceremony? I'll remember this sentiment!” The two men sat down, and a junior official served them hot tea. Ximen Qing picked up his teacup and gently blew on the foam.

The official put down his teacup, a smile playing on his lips, and changed the subject: "What are you saying, sir? My humble career is entirely due to the grace and support of my superiors; I was fortunate enough to get this position."

"In terms of background and seniority, compared to your background and the solid skills you have earned step by step, how dare I, a mere firefly, compete with the bright moon? In the future, I will rely entirely on your guidance for all matters, big and small, in the yamen. I will follow your lead without question!"

Xia Longxi put down his teacup and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Ximen, you are too modest! You are too modest! What kind of person is Grand Tutor Cai? He has a discerning eye and is no ordinary person. For you to be able to catch the Grand Tutor's eye, you must have extraordinary abilities!"

"I'm just a few years older than you, but I've wasted my time eating official salt. Now that Lord Ximen has arrived, it's like a dragon entering the sea. The atmosphere of this judicial office will definitely be different! From now on, I'll be the one to benefit from your influence and learn some new methods and techniques from you! I've heard so much about your methods of manipulating things in Qinghe County!"

The official raised an eyebrow. This Lord Xia's words implied that he knew where the official came from, and the phrase "turning the clouds and rain" was used in a meaningful way. He was clearly referring to himself.

His smile remained unchanged as he took a sip of tea: "You flatter me, sir. My little tricks are nothing more than relying on the help of my fellow villagers to make a living in Qinghe County. How can they compare to you, sir, who is in charge of criminal cases, with keen insight and discerning eyes? What kind of demons and monsters can escape your discerning gaze?"

"If I ever make any mistakes in the future, I hope that you will forgive me and promptly correct me, out of consideration for our colleague relationship. I will be eternally grateful!"

Xia Longxi clicked his tongue inwardly: This Ximen official is no pushover! This commoner has turned Qinghe County upside down. His manners and speech are impeccable. He doesn't seem like a newcomer to officialdom at all. He's clearly a seasoned veteran who's been through the wringer like himself!
As soon as I tapped it, he immediately climbed up the pole and kicked the ball back, making it slippery and easy to handle.

Xia Longxi laughed heartily, gestured with his hand, and became even more enthusiastic: "Brother Ximen, your mouth is truly as sweet as honey! If we are of one mind, our strength can break gold! What's with all this talk of 'a good talk'? You're being too polite! It's just that..."

He abruptly changed the subject, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice, his tone somewhat candid: "Brother Ximen, you've just taken charge of the judicial seal. This government office is a deep and complex place, full of all sorts of powerful and cunning individuals. Some of the rules... you're probably new here and don't quite understand them yet. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me. Don't let small things cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture and let some unscrupulous people take advantage of you, ruining your reputation and future!"

The official understood immediately. It sounded like a reminder, but its true meaning was revealed, pointing to the core interests of officials.

The implication of these words is simply that if there are any requests for bribes or the distribution of benefits from the case, you shouldn't make decisions on your own; you should come and ask me.

The high-ranking official would never care about offending his superior for such a petty gain in the matter of judicial matters. He immediately understood, his smile deepened, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes: "Your words are golden advice, sir. Every word is for my benefit! I am deeply grateful!"

"I am truly ignorant of the 'rules' of this government office. If it weren't for your guidance, sir, I would have almost made a mistake! Rest assured, sir, although I am dull-witted, I am well aware of the principle of 'remembering the source of one's blessings'."

"In this judicial office, who doesn't rely on your kindness and power, sir? I know what 'kindness' is all about! As for the rules of 'warming the old and comforting the poor,' I still have a lot to learn from you, sir!"

Xia Longxi got the answer he wanted and was satisfied. His smile became more genuine: "Hahaha! Good! What a wonderful 'friendship'! What a wonderful plan to 'warm the old and comfort the poor'!"

"My dear brother, you are indeed a wise man! You have a deep understanding of the essence of this matter!"

"Th-Through!!!"

“Brother, I love dealing with wise people! Come, come, have some tea! It’s freezing cold in this snowy weather, a cup of hot tea will warm you up! If we brothers join hands in the future, the Shandong Provincial Criminal Investigation Bureau will surely reach new heights! Your future is even brighter and limitless!”

The official quickly raised his teacup: "You flatter me, sir! If you ever rise to a high position, I hope you will give me a helping hand!"

The two exchanged barbs, their words laced with wit, yet their faces were radiant with affection, making the atmosphere in the warm room even more "harmonious." The teacups were set down, still warm.

Xia Longxi picked up his teacup and took another sip, his eyelids slightly lifted, and he casually asked, "Brother Ximen, I heard that last night... you acted swiftly and decisively, leading men to raid that entire eatery? You even... brought back Eunuch Chen and Clerk Wang?"

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing immediately stood up, bowed respectfully, and said with just the right amount of "seriousness" on his face, "I was just about to report this to you, sir!" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his voice and shouted outside, "Come here!"

Dai'an, who had been waiting outside the curtain, responded with a thunderous roar, accompanied by two sturdy servants, who laboriously carried in a heavy, vermilion-lacquered chest! The chest hit the ground with a dull thud, causing the ground to tremble slightly. Dai'an deftly lifted the lid—

Hey!
A box of gleaming, shiny silver! Neatly stacked like freshly steamed buns, it illuminated the entire warm room under the dim light!
The silver's unique, cold yet alluring luster almost pierced one's eyes!
With a respectful expression, Ximen Qing presented a dossier to Xia Longxi with both hands:
"Your Excellency, this is the illicit gambling proceeds seized last night from the gambling den. All the relevant documents have been compiled and cataloged overnight. Please review and verify them, Your Excellency!"

"Oh?" Xia Longxi was slightly dazzled by the full box of silver light, and his mind was slightly shaken. After a moment, his gaze returned to the dossier.

The file's heading read: "Case Record of Seizure of Gambling Funds and Embezzled Silver from Tongchi Brothel." Xia Longxi quickly scanned the lines, his gaze finally settling on the most crucial one:
"...the amount of gambling proceeds obtained was ___ taels of silver."

The place after the word "计得" (jide) where the specific number should have been filled in was completely blank!
Only in the lower right corner, where his name was clearly written, were the three large characters "Ximen Qing" and stamped with his bright red personal seal.

Xia Longxi's heart skipped a beat, like a drumbeat!

Immediately, a surge of ecstatic heat rushed straight to the top of my head!

Where did they forget to fill it in? This was clearly left for themselves!

The silver in the box is real, but whether the amount deposited into the treasury is large or small depends entirely on your own decision!
This Mr. Ximen... what a grand gesture! What a thorough understanding of "rules"!
"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Xia Longxi suddenly burst into loud laughter, and the loose flesh on his face jiggled joyfully.

He stretched out his finger and pointed it repeatedly at Ximen Qing from a distance, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
“My dear brother! You are truly a brilliant and insightful person! You are quick-witted and thorough in your work! I have spent half my life in this government office, and a young man like you who understands the rules, knows when to advance and retreat, and can share the burdens of your superiors is truly a rare find! You are a force to be reckoned with! With you here, how can I not be vigorous in my judicial office? How can I not be able to bring order to the realm and uphold the law?”

Xia Longxi's loud laughter echoed in the warm pavilion for a moment, like ripples on water after a stone has been thrown in, eventually subsiding.

The smile on his face seemed to be slowly wiped away by an invisible hand, gradually fading away and replaced by a solemn expression of "heart-to-heart talk".

He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and there was a hint of worry in it:
“My dear brother,” he called out, tapping the table lightly with his finger, “this case involving Tongchifang is a small matter of money, but a big one of personnel issues. It’s a good thing that you’ve made a strong start as a new official. But… do you know who’s backing those Eunuch Chen and Clerk Wang?”

He paused deliberately, slightly raising his eyelids to observe Ximen Qing's reaction. Seeing that the other was listening intently, he continued:
"That's Yang Jian, the current emperor's favorite, one of Eunuch Yang's men! Usually, that Wang clerk, relying on Eunuch Yang's power, uses our judicial office's warrant to bully people on the streets. Even I... sigh, I have to turn a blind eye and just go through the motions. This time, my virtuous brother acted swiftly and decisively, 'inviting' both of these gentlemen into jail..."

Xia Longxi shook his head and sighed, as if he were worried for Ximen Qing:

"The meager income from Tongchifang is naturally not something Lord Yang will cripple. And since you were personally selected by Grand Tutor Cai, Lord Yang might refrain from making a move for the time being out of respect for the Grand Tutor, and give you some face. However…" His tone suddenly turned serious, and his gaze sharpened.

“Eunuch Chen is, after all, a respectable man under Lord Yang, and Clerk Wang is also a useful dog under Lord Yang! You must not touch these two, my brother! In my opinion, it would be better to… before things get out of hand, find a pretext to release them all safely, and let Tongchifang reopen.”

As he spoke, he pulled a pre-prepared name card from his sleeve and placed it on the table:
“Brother, I’ll write you a personal letter. In it, I’ll say that last night’s events were a complete misunderstanding. Our subordinates acted rashly and disturbed Eunuch Chen and Clerk Wang. It has now been determined that someone else impersonated us, and it has nothing to do with Tongchifang!”

“My dear brother, you are new to your post and may have been careless for a moment. I apologize on your behalf and ask for Lord Yang's forgiveness! With this arrangement, I believe he will not make things difficult for you for the time being. What do you think, my dear brother? Is this arrangement acceptable?”

Ximen Qing understood perfectly! The box of gleaming silver from before had now been transformed into Xia Longxi's heartfelt advice, and even the "letter" to wipe his backside was ready!

If it weren't for this heavy silver weight pressing down on the scale, this letter would probably have rotted at the bottom of Old Man Xia's camphor wood chest and never seen the light of day!
That old fox! He's good at swallowing money and handling things smoothly; he's quite the shrewd old fox!
His face immediately plastered with gratitude and deference, and he bowed deeply to Xia Longxi:
"Your words are invaluable, sir! Every word is for my future! I am deeply grateful! I will leave everything to your discretion!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Seeing that Master Ximen was so "cooperative," Xia Longxi repeatedly said yes, a satisfied smile returning to his face. That smile carried a hint of satisfaction at his "teachable talent," and even more so, the ease of a deal being struck.

"I'm glad you understand my good intentions, my dear brother! As for those scoundrels and scapegoats we caught last night... whatever you think is the best way to punish them—whether it's beatings, public shaming, or exile—it's all up to you!"

"I will never meddle in such trivial matters, brother! You should go all out and take decisive action! We can use these few filthy and worthless scoundrels to establish the authority of our magistrate's office and rectify the corrupt practices in Qinghe County!"

He spoke lightly, as if the lives and fortunes of those people were nothing more than mud under his feet and bedbugs in the cracks of the wall, just enough to give the new official a chance to establish his "official authority" and add another "flame of true power" to his new post!
That's how the world works for him: only by crushing ants and paving the way for officialdom can he make the heavens seem three feet higher!
After bidding farewell to Xia Longxi, the official strolled to the dark and damp prison cell and looked through the heavy wooden bars at Hong Wu, who was huddled inside.

There was a sycophantic jailer who eagerly brought over a chair and even wiped the surface of the chair hard with his sleeve.

The high-ranking official lifted the hem of his official robe, sat down steadily and calmly, as if he were sitting in his own warm pavilion admiring flowers.

“Hong Wu,” Ximen Qing’s voice was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent cell, “Eunuch Chen and Clerk Wang have been released.”

Hong Wu leaned against the cold stone wall. Upon hearing this, a smile more painful than tears tugged at the corners of his mouth, a smile laced with bitterness and a numbness he had long anticipated. He raised his cloudy eyes, his voice hoarse:

"I... I expected it. To those big shots in the clouds, people like us, with no roots or connections, are only good for three things: guarding the house and being a good dog;"

"To die for someone is a good cut of meat; to take the blame and behead someone... is an even better stepping stone! My lord, I admit defeat. Ask me anything you wish to ask. I only ask one thing..."

He struggled, like a fish out of water, using his last bit of strength to get up, and facing the direction where Ximen Qing was sitting, he slammed his head heavily onto the ground covered with rotten grass and soaked in urine, instantly drawing blood from his forehead.

"I beg you, sir, to have mercy and spare my family! My worthless life is meant to end in a ditch! Please, sir, grant me a way to live!"

(End of this chapter)