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

Chapter 205 Mrs. Lin Acts Coquettishly, Yan Poxi Has an Affair

Upon hearing that there was a place to rest, everyone's spirits lifted slightly.

Despite the excruciating pain, Wu Yong managed to take two steps closer with his oddly pigeon-toed gait, panting heavily as he agreed, "What... what the Heavenly King said... is absolutely right! Song... Song the Clerk... is so righteous... he will... he will definitely help!" His voice trembled with pain as he spoke.

With no further objections, the group mustered their spirits, discerned their direction, and trudged towards Yuncheng County.

To avoid attracting attention, they found a secluded corner not far from the city, where they helped each other to tidy up their tattered and bloodstained clothes and hastily wiped the blood off their faces with a thin layer of snow.

Wu Yong endured the pain and tried to walk straighter, but the excruciating pain in his groin made it impossible for him to close his "pigeon-legged" stance, so he had to give up.

Gongsun Sheng was also forcibly restrained by the crowd, and he stopped his eccentric behavior.

Like refugees fleeing a disaster, the group finally found their way to Songjiangzhuang Village in Songjia Village, on the outskirts of Yuncheng County.

The gates of the manor were tightly shut, and all was quiet.

Chao Gai gestured for Bai Sheng to go forward and knock on the door.

Bai Sheng lowered his voice and called softly through the crack in the door, "Officer Song! Officer Song! An old friend has come to visit, please open the door!"

Shortly after, footsteps sounded from inside the manor, the latch clicked softly, and the door opened a crack. A servant peeked out and, in the light shining through the crack, saw a group of disheveled men with bloodstains on their faces. Startled, he asked, "Who...who are you?"

Chao Gai stepped forward and whispered, "Please inform... Clerk Song... that... Chief Abbot Chao of Dongxi Village... has come to visit..."

Upon hearing the servant address the master by his name, he dared not be negligent. He said "Wait a moment," and quickly closed the door to go inside and inform the servant.

A moment later, the gate of the manor creaked open.

A short, dark-skinned, phoenix-shaped eye and silkworm-shaped eyebrow-like middle-aged man quickly came out to greet them. It was Song Jiang, the clerk of Yuncheng County!

With a broad smile, he greeted them warmly, "Oh dear! I had no idea that King Chao was coming. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Jiang recognized Chao Gai and his group by the bright light shining from inside the door. His smile froze instantly, turning into horror!
"Hiss—!" Song Jiang was so shocked that he took half a step back, the color draining from his face instantly, and his voice changed: "Heavenly...Heavenly King Brother! What...what is going on?! How...how did you all end up in such...such a state?! Quick! Quickly invite us into the manor! Quickly!"

He instantly realized the seriousness of the situation and, disregarding all formalities, urged everyone to enter the manor while urgently instructing the servants who had followed him out: "Quickly! Prepare hot water and clean clothes! Go to town to buy wound medicine! Hurry! Be quick! This matter must not be made public!"

After giving his instructions, Song Jiang thought for a moment and realized that this matter was not simple and that the news must not be leaked. He then said, "Wait, I will go into the city to buy it myself!"

As Song Jiang spoke, he personally stepped forward and carefully supported the swaying Chao Gai. Touching him, he felt that Chao Gai's body was cold and his breath was weak, which horrified him even more.

His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering for a moment longer on Wu Yong's strange "pigeon-toed" posture and his wretched face. Even Song Jiang, with his deep and shrewd nature, could only show shock, concern, and undisguised worry on his face at this moment.

As he led the group to a secluded spot within the manor, he asked urgently in a low voice, "Brother Heavenly King! Who exactly is this person? How could they... injure you all like this?"

Chao Gai leaned on Song Jiang's shoulder, breathing heavily, a hint of lingering fear and bitterness flashing in his eyes, his voice barely audible: "Brother Gongming... it's a long story... today..." Before he could finish speaking, he was struck by another violent cough.

Song Jiang quickly patted his back and said repeatedly, "Brother, don't worry! Don't worry! We're home now that we're here! No matter how important this is, healing your wounds is the most important thing! Quickly help Brother Tianwang inside to lie down!"

Although his heart was in turmoil, his movements were incredibly swift and steady.

The village immediately sprang into action, brightly lit.

Song Jiang pocketed some loose silver, left the courtyard, and hurriedly went to the county town's herbal medicine shop to buy wound medicine.

Halfway there, they suddenly saw a figure ahead, hunching his neck and hiding his head, acting furtively. It was none other than Zhang San, a colleague from the yamen.

Song Jiang was suspicious: "Why is this fellow here instead of going to his duty today?"

He quietly lagged behind, and saw that the carriage, after twisting and turning, plunged into a small alley. Deep in that alley was Song Jiang's small courtyard, where Yan Poxi was kept!
Song Jiang's heart skipped a beat, as if a block of ice had been placed inside. He moved even lighter, slipping behind a broken wall at the alley entrance. The cold wind swirled with snowflakes, piercing his neck and making his teeth chatter, but he was oblivious, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed courtyard gate.

When Zhang San arrived at the door, he didn't knock. He just looked around, like a thief. Then, he lowered his voice and called into the crack in the door, "My dear! Open the door!" His voice was sweet and cloying, like a honey-coated cake.

A moment of silence fell over the courtyard, followed by the sound of light footsteps. The door creaked open a crack, and half a face peeked out. It was Yan Poxi!
Her hair was loosely tied in a black bun, with a red gold hairpin inserted at an angle. She must have just gotten up from being in bed. Her face was not yet powdered, which made her face look even more like a peach blossom in March, with a hint of charm and allure.

But those eyes, now carrying a hint of languid sleepiness and a touch of sarcasm, glanced at Zhang San in the cold wind.

Her slender hand, stained with bright red balsam juice, clung to the doorframe, her fingertips slightly red from the cold, which only accentuated the striking, alluring nail polish. Her voice was sweet and languid, yet with a hint of sarcasm: "Which short-lived idiot is making such a racket outside? It's freezing! The wind through this crack in the door is like a knife!"

As if he had received a royal decree, Zhang San hurriedly pulled out a red silk bundle from his pocket and stuffed it into the jade hand through the crack in the door, saying repeatedly, "It's me! You said you liked it the other day, so I ran my legs off to find this pure silver braided bracelet. It's of the finest quality! Take it quickly, or your little hands will get cold!"

The hand that had taken the cloth bundle quickly withdrew. With a bang, the door slammed shut again, and a soft laugh from Yan Poxi echoed from inside the courtyard, like the tinkling of a silver bell: "Oh, at least you still have some conscience. But..."

She drew out her voice, with a hint of self-control, "I haven't been feeling well these past few days. When 'Red General' came, I felt my hands and feet were ice cold, and I felt empty inside. I just wanted to drink a bowl of hot rock sugar bird's nest to warm myself up. But that Song Sanlang hasn't been around for two or three months, let alone brought me such a delicate thing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang San's bones melted, and he hurriedly swore an oath: "My dear mother! As long as you open the door, let alone bird's nest and snow swallow, I'll even climb a ladder to pluck the stars and the moon from the sky for you! These past few days, I've been so worried about you that I haven't been able to eat or drink, and I dream about you constantly. I'm practically ready to rip my heart out for you to see! You... don't you understand my feelings?"

In the cold wind, Song Jiang heard everything clearly from behind the wall, and a surge of anger shot up to the top of the door!
Yan Poxi spoke again through the door, her voice low and seductive: "Hmph, glib talker! All talk and no action! As long as you take care of that last 'little thing' for me properly... then in the future..." She paused, her voice even lower and more seductive, "this door will naturally be open for you."

"Really? It's a deal!" Zhang San was so happy that he scratched his head and cheeks, and then left, looking back every few steps.

Song Jiang, hidden in the shadows, thought to himself, "Bah! What a shameless pair of dogs! This Yan Poxi was never my wife, arranged by my parents or a matchmaker. She was just a mistress I bought and placed here because I was soft-hearted!"

"Since she has no affection for me and secretly engages in such underhanded dealings, why should I, Song Gongming, a dignified husband, get myself into this mess? I'll just consider it a waste of money and from now on, I'll never set foot in her house again!"

But as soon as that thought crossed his mind, another chill ran down his spine: "This is no good! This shameless woman is so unchaste. If the gossipy neighbors see this and spread it around, saying that I, Song Jiang, can't even control my mistress and let her seduce my colleagues, where will I, the 'Timely Rain,' put my face? What about my reputation as the clerk of Yuncheng County?"

Thinking of this, the feigned magnanimity vanished instantly, leaving only anger at being offended and anxiety about damage to his reputation.

His face was ashen. He took a deep breath of the biting cold air, barely suppressing his anger. He straightened his clothes, walked a few steps to the courtyard gate, and knocked three times.

Inside the courtyard, Yan Poxi, having just received her silver bracelet, was happily admiring it against the window when she suddenly heard another knock at the door. Thinking it was Zhang San returning, she was overjoyed and swayed her slender waist to open it. She muttered coquettishly, "You short-lived rascal, why are you back again…"

Before the word "come" could be uttered, the door was opened, and standing outside was Song Jiang, his face ashen!

Yan Poxi was so frightened that the silver bracelet wrapped in red silk in her hand clattered to the ground! Her face drained of color, even paler than the snow on the ground, and she involuntarily shrank back: "Third...Third Brother? You...how did you get here?"

Song Jiang blocked the doorway, his tall figure casting a shadow.

His gaze was icy, sweeping over Yan Poxi's deathly pale face before settling on the glaring red silk bundle on the ground. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Heh, if I hadn't come, how would I have known that your little courtyard was so 'warm' even in winter? Zhang San's legs are certainly quite diligent."

After Yan Poxi's initial panic subsided, seeing that Song Jiang did not immediately lash out, and hearing his sarcastic tone, her mean and shrewish nature was instead provoked.

She bent down to pick up the silver bracelet, not bothering to hide it, but instead weighing it in her hand, forcing a smile, and raising her voice to a shrill tone in rebuttal:
"Oh! Who do we have here! It's none other than Clerk Song! In this freezing weather, instead of warming yourself by the fire in the yamen, you have the leisure to come to my humble abode to eavesdrop? How long has it been since you last came to see me? Are you saying that others aren't allowed to come and visit? Am I the legal wife you married through the proper channels of your parents and the three matchmakers? Bah! I'm nothing more than a prostitute you rented a room for and kept me here for a pittance!"

She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving, making her voluptuous figure, encased in a pink jacket, even more prominent. An unnatural blush rose to her face, and her harsh words rained down like hailstones:
“You, Clerk Song, put on a brave and upright act like a loyal and righteous villain in public! But who doesn’t know what you’ve been up to behind the scenes? You government officials, which cat doesn’t eat fish? Which mouse doesn’t steal oil? ‘Governors are like flies to blood when they see money!’”

"You haven't come for months, and now you're bothering me? I'm feeling unwell and want a bowl of bird's nest soup to warm me up, where are you?"

Song Jiang sneered: "Good! What a silver tongue! That's right! There has never been any formal marriage ceremony or proper ceremony between us! But—who in the neighborhood doesn't know that you, Yan Poxi, are my mistress whom I, Song Jiang, have pawned and kept here?"

"Even if you've got the wrong idea today and want to be with that Zhang San or Li Si, you still have to behave properly and ask me for a divorce letter first! That's only proper etiquette!"

He took a step forward, and Yan Poxi was so frightened by the terrifying coldness in his eyes that she took a step back, her previous arrogance instantly diminished by half.

Song Jiang looked down at her, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth: "But—listen to me carefully! If your shameless deeds tarnish my name and tarnish my reputation as a clerk, then don't blame me for turning my back on you! This Yuncheng County may be large, but it cannot tolerate a vile person who has broken the moral order and disrupted the law! You'd better watch yourself! Watch your flesh!"

Song Jiang abruptly flicked his sleeves, stirring up a gust of cold wind, and strode away, leaving Yan Poxi standing there, frozen in place, shivering like an autumn leaf, in a deathly silence and biting cold.

Ximen Da Guanren had no idea that such a big thing had happened to his caravan.

He sat in a warm sedan chair with thick brocade curtains hanging at the four corners and incense burning inside, and was carried all the way to the magnificent gate of Wang Zhaoxuan's mansion, which had been restored and renovated.

The sedan chair landed steadily, and Dai'an hurriedly stepped forward to lift the curtain. A blast of cold air hit him, causing the official to frown slightly.

He stepped down from the footstool, and the warmth inside the heated sedan chair was immediately swept away by the cold wind.

"Go back now," Ximen Qing said, dusting off his clean sleeves. His voice was low but carried an undeniable authority. "Go to the ancestral hall in the back and kneel before the ancestral tablets until this time tomorrow. Wake up from your muddled thinking!"

Dai'an's face immediately turned so bitter it looked like he could squeeze juice out of it, thinking that his father had forgotten.

He looked dejected, but dared not be negligent, repeatedly replying, "Yes, sir, I understand, I'll go right away..."

Only after watching the high-ranking official stride into the mansion did he drag his heavy steps and mount his horse.

As soon as Ximen Qing stepped into the front courtyard of Zhaoxuan Mansion, he heard a clear yet dignified female voice carried on the cold wind.

Looking up, one could see a pretty maidservant reprimanding seven or eight other young maids standing respectfully with their hands at their sides under the covered walkway. That woman was none other than Jin Chuan'er.

She was slender and wearing a yellow cardigan.

She wore a light green silk skirt and a nearly new leather jacket over it.

She didn't bring that many clothes with her; it's obvious that Mrs. Lin gave them to her from the mansion.

She had an oval face, and beneath her arched eyebrows that seemed to be furrowed but weren't, were a pair of almond-shaped eyes that shone with a watery light. At this moment, she was looking at the crowd in front of her with the competence of a stewardess.

She still retained the delicate and charming appearance she had in the Rongguo Mansion, but compared to before, a touch of composure and elegance had been added to her brows and eyes, clearly indicating that she was now a well-known maid in the mansion.

"Dear sisters, the Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year. The sacrificial utensils must not be taken lightly!"

"The charcoal brazier in the room must be filled with charcoal this afternoon, so that Madam does not suffer even a bit of cold. Also, all of you must wash and iron your winter clothes to look neat and tidy. If anyone dresses sloppily and bulkily these days, disgracing the household, I cannot bear the blame from Madam."

Jin Chuan'er's voice was clear and articulate, and she explained all the taboos and duties of the Winter Solstice in detail, showing that she was well-versed in this matter.

As she was speaking, her eyes swept across the room and she suddenly spotted Ximen Qing, who had just entered the courtyard. Instantly, a burning light burst forth in his eyes, like a candle suddenly lit in the cold night, filled with admiration, dependence, and unspeakable tenderness.

She leaned forward slightly involuntarily, as if to meet him, but then suddenly remembered her status and the occasion, and stopped herself in her tracks, suppressing her eagerness in her eyes, which turned into a deeper pool of autumn water.

She forced herself to remain calm, waved to the maids in front of her, and said in a calm voice, "Alright, everyone disperse and go about your duties."

The maids, as if granted a pardon, bowed and withdrew. After everyone had left, Jin Chuan gracefully walked up to Ximen Qing and knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Master."

The official had a playful smile on his lips. He reached out and offered a helping hand, his gaze sweeping over her before he asked in a low voice, "Did you rest well last night? Are you feeling much better?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Chuan'er's cheeks flushed red. She quickly glanced at the official, then shyly lowered her head and softly murmured "Mmm," a sound as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet brimming with affection.

The official laughed and said, "This place can't compare to the Rongguo Mansion. It's a Duke's residence after all; even a single brick exudes nobility. Are you sorry to have to make do here?"

"What are you saying, sir!" Jin Chuan'er was taken aback and hurriedly curtsied again. Her tone was urgent, afraid that the master would misunderstand. "The Rongguo Mansion... no matter how good the Rongguo Mansion was, it was all in the past. No matter how good it was there, it was noisy and chaotic, with rules as heavy as the sky, making it hard to breathe."

"And here, although it can't compare to the grandeur of the Duke's mansion, it's a rare place of peace and simplicity. Jin Chuan'er, a... a poor soul who almost committed suicide, is to be cherished and brought back to the mansion by the master, and... and given such a high position, allowing me to manage these affairs and live with dignity... This is already an immense blessing!"

"Jin Chuan'er is filled with gratitude, remembering Master's kindness every day. How could she dare utter a single word of 'grievance'? Here... it's truly wonderful, nothing could be better." She spoke the last few words very softly, yet they seemed to carry a burning warmth and utmost sincerity.

Seeing her shy yet grateful expression, the man reached out and patted her cheek: "Little hussy, take good care of your injuries. I will cherish you even more..." The intimacy in his words made Jin Chuan'er's heart pound like a drum, and she clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Ximen Qing chuckled lightly, said no more, and strode towards the inner hall.

Jin Chuan'er gazed intently at his tall figure disappearing behind the moon gate before letting out a soft sigh. Her blush hadn't faded, but her eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—sweetness, anticipation, and a touch of unspeakable trepidation.

Madam Lin had already received a messenger from her servant and knew that Ximen Qing had come down from the yamen. She specially changed into a brand-new silver-red jacket, applied her makeup and lipstick to herself in front of the mirror, put on her jewelry, and then took off her clothes to reveal a green bodice with red lotus and mandarin ducks underneath.

Upon hearing the maidservants outside bowing and greeting her, she quickly sat upright on the warm kang (heated brick bed) covered with a large scarlet felt, holding a delicate hand warmer in her hands, pretending to be calm, but her eyes involuntarily drifted towards the door.

The curtain was lifted, and the tall figure of Master Ximen strode in.

The official robes of a fifth-rank official shimmered with a restrained yet luxurious luster under the light, and his brows carried an added air of composure and majesty, making him appear even more imposing and authoritative without being angry.

Mrs. Lin felt a surge of scalding heat rush from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, and her heart felt as if it had been violently struck by something!
The imposing man in official robes before her was an even more deadly and heart-stopping attraction to the dashing and wicked Ximen Qing she remembered.

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable tingling sensation, like a fine electric current, instantly coursed through my limbs and bones, making my waist feel weak on one side, almost causing me to lose my balance.

She maintained the dignified demeanor of a matriarch and said to a maid standing beside her, "Go to the kitchen and see if the ginseng soup that's simmering is ready."

The maids responded and withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the warm pavilion.

The moment the curtain fell, the composure on Mrs. Lin's face vanished instantly. She practically sprang to her feet, like a fragrant, warm scent, and with a hint of urgency, she threw herself into Ximen Qing's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

Mrs. Lin's fingers lingered on the smooth patchwork of the official robe, her eyes filled with seductive allure. She looked up at Ximen Qing and exclaimed sincerely, "My good father... this official robe... on you... is truly... majestic and awe-inspiring, like a god descended from heaven! In the entire Qinghe County, no, in the entire capital, you can't find another gentleman who can wear an official robe so dashingly!"

The official was pleased by her infatuated gaze and blatant flattery. Looking down at her face, which was as beautiful as a peach blossom, he gave her a light pat on the buttocks and said with a hint of smugness, "This official robe suits you well, and it's all thanks to this rhinoceros horn belt passed down from the Prince that you gave me. It makes me look even more dashing, doesn't it?"

He patted the glossy black rhinoceros leather belt with gold buckles around his waist.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lin immediately followed his lead, her fingertips tracing the cool gold clasp, her voice sweet and alluring:
"This belt is fine, and treasures are hard to find. Even if my household were in dire straits, I would never be willing to pawn it. But no matter how fine it is, it is just an inanimate object!"

She raised her watery, alluring eyes and stared intently at Ximen Qing. Her red lips parted slightly as she uttered even more seductive words: "I've seen other nobles in the capital before. Whether they're old or young, it's just a valuable trinket around their waists. But when it's tied around your dragon waist and tiger back, Father..."

She paused deliberately, her fingertip tracing a suggestive circle on his firm abdomen below his belt, before continuing, "It's truly been 'brought to life' by your indomitable spirit! Having absorbed your essence, it's become even more majestic, its golden light shining even brighter!"

"In the end, it is your official bearing and your physique, Father, that make this robe stand out and bring out the charm of this belt! Without you, they would lose all their splendor."

The official was amused by her and laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased.

He grabbed her hand that was wandering around his waist, squeezed it hard, and said with a hot and affectionate look in his eyes, "You little smooth talker! You always know how to make me happy!"

As he spoke, he leaned down to kiss her, but Mrs. Lin giggled and dodged, her hands already expertly unfastening the gold buckle on his rhinoceros horn belt, which she had praised as "tainted with dragon energy." A chorus of sweet sounds immediately filled the warm chamber.

The Mandarin he had spoken so clearly and precisely a moment ago had now transformed into the sticky, soft Wu dialect, its warm breath seeping straight into Ximen Qing's ears:

"My dear father! I've missed you so much! In this freezing weather, is your heart made of iron? Aren't you afraid of getting cold! Let me warm you up..."

As she spoke, her soft hands restlessly slipped inside the man's warm inner robe, and her red lips impatiently pressed a flurry of kisses onto his cheeks and neck, whispering breathlessly, "...Father, my heart is waiting for you to fill it...Feel...have my hips gotten a little fatter these past few days?"

Ximen Qing held her voluptuous body in his arms, feeling the soft warmth and fragrance of her body and the urgent desire in his heart. He chuckled and said, "You're really too bold. Aren't you afraid that some clueless maid will suddenly barge in?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lin giggled coquettishly, glancing at him with seductive eyes: "I'm not afraid at all! They all know I need to take a 'nap' at this time, and they would never dare to step into this warm chamber without my permission!"

(End of this chapter)