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

Chapter 206 Dai'an Suffers Injustice, Birthday Gifts Go into Treasury! Requesting monthly votes!
Meanwhile, Dai'an, dressed in a brand-new ninth-rank official robe, looked like a wilted autumn eggplant, drooping his head and dragging himself through the two vermilion beast-head gates of the Ximen Mansion.

His face was ashen, showing no trace of the joy of a new official taking office. He looked as if he had just crawled out of a mud pit, his head wishing it could be tucked into the collar of his official robes and hang down to his chest.

In the main hall, the candlelight shone brightly, brighter than daytime.

Wu Yueniang sat in the main seat, slowly twirling a string of shiny Buddhist beads in her hand, and was discussing the arrangements for tomorrow's banquet with Pan Jinlian, Li Guijie, Xiangling and the others below her.

Tablecloths and chair covers adorned with gold and silver were piled on the rosewood table, while lists of various fruit dishes and wine vessels were spread out on the table.

Jinlian was holding a piece of paper, arguing with Xiangling about which fruit wasn't fresh enough, while Guijie stood to the side, tapping her silver cup with her fingertips and silently counting the number of fruits.

Yue Niang's eyes darted around, and she had already spotted Dai An, looking like a jinx, slinking in all by himself. She paused, her prayer beads twitching, and asked, "Dai An, why are you here alone? Where is your master?"

Upon hearing the call, Dai'an trembled and shuffled to the lamplight, not daring to lift his eyelids. He stammered out, "Replying to...replying to Auntie, Uncle...Uncle said there are still a few things to deal with at the yamen, and he can't get away for a while. He told me...I...I came back first." His voice was dry and hoarse, like a broken bellows.

What kind of sharp-eyed person was Pan Jinlian?

They had long taken notice of Dai'an's utterly lost character.

She slammed the list on the table with a "smack," glanced at Dai An's brand-new official robe with her alluring eyes, and spoke with a half-smile:

"Oh ho! I thought some esteemed magistrate had condescended to step into our mansion! Ah! It's our Lord Dai'an! Look at this attire, so imposing on him! But..."

She deliberately dragged out her words, her eyes darting around Dai'an's face.
"You've certainly put on an air of authority, but why do you look like you've been robbed of your spirit by some ghost? You're like a defeated, sickly chicken, unable to even straighten your neck. Could it be that this official robe is made of cast iron, pressing down on you until your soul leaves your body and your spirit departs?"

Dai'an's face flushed red and then turned pale. He shrank his head even further into his chest cavity, staring intently at the tips of his brand-new official boots, as if trying to drill a hole through them.

Seeing his embarrassment, Xiangling timidly interjected, "He must have just returned from the long journey to the capital. He's exhausted and can't recover yet."

"Tired?" Li Guijie, who was listening from the side, chimed in, "I don't think so! Our Dai'an is a man of steel, what's a little distance to him? In my opinion, he probably did something wrong at the yamen that displeased the master, and got a good scolding from him! That's why he came back looking so ashamed, like a stray dog!"

"Pah!" Pan Jinlian immediately spat, her eyebrows raised and her almond eyes wide, retorting without mercy: "You've only been in this mansion for a few days! What do you know about manners! This boy..."

She extended a slender, jade-like finger and lightly tapped Dai'an's forehead. "He grew up in the Ximen household since he was a child. His father scolded him as often as a father scolding his own son! Every time, he would lick his lips and be overjoyed as if he had found a treasure after being scolded. There must be something fishy about his unlucky appearance today! If you don't know the ins and outs, don't meddle!"

Li Guijie was so enraged by Jinlian's sharp and sarcastic retort that her fair face turned pale, her eyebrows furrowed, and her chest heaved. She was about to twist her neck and retort—

"Alright!" Wu Yueniang interrupted softly, then turned her gaze to the maids and servants standing to the side, her tone leaving no room for argument: "You may all leave now. Standing outside is just a waste of time. Get some rest and be well-rested so you can serve us carefully at the banquet tomorrow."

"Yes, Madam!" The maids and servants, as if granted a pardon, held their breath and filed out.

The hall fell silent instantly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the crackling of the candle wicks and the flickering light casting shadows on everyone's faces.

Once the footsteps had completely disappeared outside the door, Yue Niang fixed her gaze on Dai An again. Although her tone had softened somewhat, it still carried a heavy weight:

“Dai’an. Right now, there’s not a single outsider in this room. They’re all people who serve the master. You’ve been rooted in this Ximen mansion since birth. The master watched you grow from a naked baby into a man who can stand up for the family. When it comes to the affection for this mansion, no one can compare to yours!”

“Even I, having been married into this household for longer than you have, have been here longer than you have! If you have been wronged by anyone today, just tell me the whole story! If it is someone in the household who is blind and has upset you, no matter who it is, as long as you are in the right,” Yue Niang’s voice suddenly turned cold, “I will stand up for you today! I will definitely get justice!”

“It is…it was just that Master was angry for a moment and wronged you,” Yue Niang paused, her gaze deepening, “and I will certainly speak up for you.”

Yue Niang's words struck Dai An's heart like a hammer, making him even more unable to bear it.

Dai'an felt a surge of scalding sourness rush up from the bottom of his heart, making his nose sting, his throat feel like it was being choked, and his eyes instantly burning. The grievances that had been suppressed for so long were about to burst out like boiling water from a lid!

Finally, his throat bobbed violently a few times, and the pent-up words finally broke through the dam, pouring out in a tearful choke:

"Reporting to...Reporting to Madam! I...I was in the capital, and for a moment I was blinded by greed. I took it upon myself to...to undertake a matter on behalf of the household...I originally intended to share the burden of my mistress, and had absolutely no selfish motives!"

"Heaven above, my heart is red even if I were to lay it bare for my father to see! Even if you were to reward me with a ninth-rank official position, or even a first or second-rank one, I would still be a member of the Ximen family! But...but my father...he..." Dai'an's voice suddenly rose and then abruptly stopped, as if something had cut it off:

“He suspected me… suspected me of having ulterior motives! He punished me by making me kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole day! He punished me and beat me, and I accepted it all! But my great-uncle… he suspected me of having ulterior motives…” Before he could finish speaking, his words turned into a suppressed sob, and the head that had just been raised was buried deep again, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yueniang's tense expression relaxed, and a knowing yet somewhat helpless smile even appeared on her lips. She laughed and scolded, "I thought it was something terrible! Turns out it's just this! You little monkey, usually you're slipperier than an eel in an oil vat, always coming up with one trick after another. How come you've gotten stuck in a rut today and become confused first?"

She looked at Dai'an's drooping head, her voice clear and firm: "Why don't you use your clever brain to think about this! What kind of place is the ancestral hall? It's a quiet place where ancestral tablets are enshrined and incense smoke fills the air! What kind of people kneel there? Do you think just any servant can go in and kneel like that? Hmm?"

"Ah!" Dai'an was struck as if by lightning. He suddenly raised his head, his face still streaked with tears, but his eyes instantly burst forth with a light of wild joy!

"Thank you, Auntie! Thank you for your guidance, Auntie! I was so foolish! I deserve to die!" Dai'an was so happy he almost jumped up, thanking her repeatedly. He kowtowed several times to Yue Niang, and his face instantly brightened, beaming with joy.

Moon Lady continued to laugh and scold, "Master was just reminding you to be mindful of the rules. This time, he's not blaming you at all; he's just rewarding you in a roundabout way! Good that you know it. Go on, go on!"

Dai'an didn't even bother wiping away his tears. He jumped up and walked as fast as if he were riding on wheels of fire. He muttered, "I'm going right now... I'm going right now..." and dashed off towards the ancestral hall, happily going to "receive his punishment."

As soon as I stepped out the door, I saw Lai Xing running towards me, panting heavily, his face and head covered in sweat, as if he had been pulled out of the water.

He bumped into Dai'an coming out of the door, and in his panic, he forgot all about manners and grabbed Dai'an's arm with such force that Dai'an cried out "Ouch!"

"Where is Uncle? Where is Uncle right now?" Lai Xing asked anxiously, his chest heaving and his voice trembling. "There's... there's something extremely important going on, like the sky is falling. I need to find Uncle and report to him immediately!"

Dai'an was startled by his appearance. When he looked closely, he saw that Lai Xing's face was deathly pale, his lips were bloodless, and his eyes were wide open, filled with panic.

Dai An's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Oh no! This guy is in charge of purchasing goods. He just made that mistake last time. Could it be... could it be that the important goods have run into bandits on the way?"

He felt uneasy and dared not hide anything. He quickly glanced around, then leaned close to Lai Xing's ear and whispered:

"Third steward, don't panic, don't panic... First Uncle... he is currently walking around Wang Zhaoxuan's residence."

Upon hearing the words "Wang Zhaoxuan Mansion," Lai Xing didn't have time to think it over and turned to head straight for the mansion.

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped.

He usually only stayed at the Ximen residence and went out to buy things, and had never been to Wang Zhaoxuan's residence. But then he thought that it might be difficult to get in and cause trouble!

Without a word, he grabbed Dai'an's collar again, almost lifting him up, and said urgently:
“You know the way well, come with me quickly! We’ll go right away!” Suddenly, he paused, noticing that Dai’an was dressed in what looked like official robes: “What are you wearing? Are you an actor?”

Dai'an stumbled from the tugging, his face contorted in pain. Too lazy to explain, he said, "Ouch! Let go a little! I have some important business to attend to right now, my uncle has given me, and I can't delay..."

"Put aside even the most important matters!" Lai Xing wouldn't give him a chance to argue, his eyes reddening. "Come with me to find Uncle! I guarantee you'll be alright! I'll hold the sky up even if it falls! Uncle won't punish you after he hears about what happened! Hurry up! If we're too late, something terrible might happen!"

His words were spoken urgently and forcefully, carrying a ruthless edge that sent a chill down Dai'an's spine.

Seeing that his expression was genuine, Dai'an knew that this matter was of utmost importance, so he dared not refuse any longer and hurriedly nodded, "Alright, alright! I'll go with you!"

At this moment, in the inner room of Wang Zhaoxuan's residence.

Mrs. Lin, her hair disheveled and covered in fragrant sweat, lay limply on Ximen Qing's sweaty chest, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on his strong arms, her expression one of satiated languid allure.

The official patted her cheek and asked, "By the way, when I came in just now, I saw Jin Chuan giving instructions at the front. She had quite the air of a stewardess. Is she doing well here?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lin raised her head, her eyes filled with genuine praise: "This girl truly lives up to her reputation as a head maid from the Rongguo Mansion! Her keen observation and impeccable manners are something that ordinary families can't produce."

"She's only been here a day, but she's already fixed all the long-standing problems of laziness and lack of discipline in my household. She's established the rules that needed to be set up, and punished those who needed to be punished clearly. Now everyone under her command is obedient. A few days ago, Father sent the steward to deliver a few more clueless little girls. Jin Chuan'er is training them quickly and well, which has saved me a lot of trouble."

As she spoke, her brows furrowed slightly, revealing the worries of a mistress of the house: "But... now that we have more staff in the mansion, the original servants' quarters are a bit cramped. They're all crammed together and don't look very proper."

The official smiled dismissively, as if the matter was insignificant: "What's so difficult about that? Just buy that small courtyard next to your mansion wall."

"The alley leading out from there is narrow and out of the way, and it's not a proper road. I'll go to the county government office another day, ask Magistrate Li for an official document, and buy that land and the alley together. He'll still give me that much face."

"In that case, the alley connects to the back courtyard, so your mansion will have an extra entrance and exit for no reason. You can build it however you want, whether it's a servants' quarters or a storeroom, it'll be very spacious! Is such a small matter worth your trouble?" His words revealed his wealth and arrogance, as well as his ability to control the government.

Mrs. Lin was overjoyed! This was simply a wonderful thing! Not only did it solve the current overcrowding, but it also expanded the size of the mansion! Her ancestral home had not been expanded for decades.

Excited, she sat up and wrapped her arms tightly around Ximen Qing's neck. Her red lips rained down on his face and neck, and her voice was so sweet it could drip honey.

Her eyes were brimming with tears, filled with adoration and dependence: "What kind of life have I lived these years as a widow? Night after night, I've been alone in my cold bed, feeling empty and adrift. I can't sleep soundly, I can't eat well, and I've grown thinner and thinner than a yellow flower..."

She raised her watery, alluring eyes, took Ximen Qing's large hand, and guided it to cover her even fuller, softer waist and hips, her voice filled with seductive charm: "But ever since I've received Father's favor... look... doesn't my body... have become even more plump?"

The official laughed and slapped the man down: "Alright, it's time to go back to the manor. Help me get dressed."

Although reluctant, Madam Lin rose, donning a clean, light red bodice that revealed half of her fair, plump arm. She slipped on her embroidered shoes and personally helped the master dress. Her slender, delicate fingers brushed against his chest, her slender waist swaying gracefully as she said sweetly, "My lord, you always need this 'third-rank noblewoman' to help you dress. It's so embarrassing if word gets out." The master laughed, "What? You don't want to? If you don't want to, you won't come next time."

Mrs. Lin was so frightened that she hurriedly said, "Don't even mention getting dressed." After saying that, she hesitated and gave the man a shy glare.

After joking around for a while, Ximen Qing finally tidied himself up and took his leave amidst Mrs. Lin's reluctant and tearful gaze.

Just as they stepped out of the vermilion gate with its beast-head rings at Wang Zhaoxuan's residence, they were greeted by Dai'an and Laixing, who were rushing towards them.

Upon seeing Ximen Da Guanren, they were as if they had seen a Bodhisattva who could save them from suffering. With a "thump," the two of them knelt down on the ground, their foreheads almost hitting the cold stone slab.

By the dim light of the lanterns at the gate of the mansion, the official took a closer look and saw that it was Lai Xing. His heart sank.

He should be leading the convoy at this moment, so why is he here in the middle of the night? Look at his appearance, his face is ashen, his lips are trembling, and his whole body is shaking like a leaf.

"Lai Xing?" Ximen Qing frowned, his voice carrying its usual imposing tone. "Didn't you go off with the silk convoy? Why are you back now? Where is the convoy?"

Lai Xing kowtowed: "Uncle! The caravan is back! It's...it's just outside Qinghe County, at Wu Lipo, and Master Wu is personally guarding it!"

"Now that we've reached the outskirts of the city, why didn't we go into the city and store our goods tonight? What are you two doing here looking for me in the dead of night?" The official's suspicions deepened, and he vaguely felt that something was amiss.

Lai Xing suddenly raised his head, his face glistening with sweat and dust under the lamplight, his eyes brimming with fear: "Uncle! We dare not enter the city! There is... there is a matter of utmost importance! Please, Uncle, you must go out of the city and see for yourself! We... we really dare not make the decision!"

When Ximen Qing saw his condition, he knew it was no ordinary matter, and the words "a matter of utmost importance" made his eyelids twitch.

"Alright!" Ximen Qing made a decisive decision and said in a deep voice, "Prepare the horses! Leave the city immediately!"

Before he finished speaking, Dai'an had already scrambled to his feet, and from the shadows of the alley next door, a clever servant led out Ximen Qing's exceptionally fine chrysanthemum-colored horse.

Without saying a word, Ximen Qing kicked the stirrup, nimbly mounted the horse, and before the saddle was even firmly on, he shouted, "Lead the way!"

Lai Xing hurriedly got up, and a servant brought him a fast horse. The three of them rode with hooves like rapid drums, shattering the silence of the night, heading straight for the gate of Qinghe County.

It was nearly midnight, and the city gates were already tightly shut. The gatekeeper was yawning as he directed a few soldiers to prepare to lower the heavy bolt.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves thundered in the distance, approaching rapidly and quickly, reaching the city walls in the blink of an eye.

The gatekeeper, who was dozing against the city gate, was startled by the sudden sound of galloping hooves. As if boiling oil had been poured on his feet, he jumped up with a "whoosh".

Rubbing his eyes, he saw the magnificent chrysanthemum-green horse illuminated by the lantern light. The person sitting on the horse wore a loyalty and integrity hat, a fifth-rank official robe, and a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist—it was none other than the deputy commander of the county's criminal investigation office, the dignified fifth-rank official, Master Ximen!

The clerk's laziness vanished instantly, his drowsiness completely gone.

He practically scrambled to the horse's feet, his knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees on the cold stone floor with a thud. His forehead touched the ground, his buttocks sticking out, and his voice trembled uncontrollably: "Oh dear! I deserve to die! I deserve to die! I didn't know you were here, sir! May I ask if you are leaving the city? Are you returning to the city tonight?"

Before he could finish speaking, he was already drenched in cold sweat. The rest of his words were stuck in his throat, and he only dared to steal glances at the official's face.

Ximen Qing reined in the restless green horse, looking down at the clerk with eyes like two cold, gleaming boning knives, slowly sweeping across the clerk's trembling back.

He did not dismount, but merely snorted softly through his nostrils, directly interrupting the clerk's trembling: "Hmm. I know. However, the silk convoy that my family purchased in the south has already arrived outside the city. I must go and personally welcome it. Open the city gates immediately."

The clerk's fawning smile was almost dripping down his face, his back was bent so low he looked like he was about to break, and his voice rose eight octaves, filled with the most obsequious flattery: "Oh dear! It's your entourage, sir! This is official business! Please come in, sir! Please come in! We will certainly wait here for your return, sir! We would never dare to lower the bolts even a little bit in advance! Please be careful of the night dew and chilly wind, sir!"

Ximen Qing's face remained expressionless, he only nodded slightly.

He casually reached into a brocade pouch at his waist, pulled out a piece of snowflake-patterned silver weighing about two ounces, and tossed it to the ground without even glancing at it, as if it were a pebble.

The silver coin flashed a blinding white light under the lantern's glow, landing right in front of the clerk. "Please wait a moment, take this, and buy some wine for the brothers to warm them up."

The clerk caught the silver with both hands, clutching it tightly. It was cold and heavy in his hands, and he was overjoyed. He kowtowed several times, shouting in a shrill voice, "Thank you for your generous reward, sir! Thank you for the money for our drinks! Quickly! Open the door for the sir! Be quick! Don't startle the master's horse! Oil the door hinges! Be gentle!"

With a teeth-grinding creak, the heavy city gate was pushed open by several soldiers, leaving only a narrow gap, just wide enough for a horse to pass through.

Without another word, Ximen Qing spurred his horse, and the chrysanthemum-green steed neighed loudly, shooting out of the door crack like an arrow, stirring up a gust of cold wind. Lai Xing, Dai An, and the others dared not delay and followed closely behind, their hooves pounding like a sudden downpour on the stone pavement, quickly swallowed by the boundless darkness outside the city.

The minor official shakily scrambled to his feet, his legs still feeling weak. He clutched the silver ingot, still warm from Master Ximen's touch, and gazed again and again at the dark expanse outside the city. He clicked his tongue, and speaking to the soldiers beside him who were equally stunned and afraid to breathe, his voice was filled with awe and envy:
"Look at this! This is the true air of an official! A fifth-rank magistrate! A grain of sand slipping through his fingers is enough for us to chew on for a year! All of you, perk up! Be on your guard and wait for Lord Ximen to return to the city! Anyone who dares to doze off, I'll skin him alive!"

Several soldiers, looking around obsequiously at the silver ingot, their eyes gleaming, were no longer sleepy at all.
The cold wind whipped up snowflakes, stinging people's faces.

The high-ranking official crunched through the snow as he arrived at the hillside behind where his caravan had landed. A dozen or so large carts were parked side by side, the animals unharnessed and puffing out white steam under the trees.

The dozen or so guards, hunched over and stamping their feet, immediately straightened up upon seeing the esteemed official, and in unison clasped their hands in a servile bow: "Greetings to the esteemed official!"

The most eye-catching person in the crowd was Wu Song. Although he was only wearing the ordinary blue cotton-padded jacket of a guard, his body was as strong as an iron tower, and there was an unconcealable murderous aura between his brows, making him stand out like a crane among chickens, making people dare not look directly at him.

When he saw Ximen Qing arrive, he clasped his hands in a salute and said in a deep voice, "Master."

Ximen Qing put on his usual warm smile, but his eyes swept over the carts like a hawk, lingering for a moment on the boxes at the back of the carts that were covered with tarpaulins and tied up very tightly.

He kept saying, "Brothers, you've worked hard," but his feet didn't stop as he walked straight to one of the boxes.

Seeing this, Wu Song assumed that the master wanted to inspect it, so he stepped forward and stretched out his large, fan-like hand to untie the oilcloth rope and try to open the box.

Just as Wu Song's fingers barely touched the edge of the oilcloth, the official's eyelids twitched suddenly!
He keenly spotted a faint yet unmistakable vermilion seal revealed in the shadows of the box as the corner of the tarpaulin was lifted by the cold wind! It was the mark of the official treasury!

In a flash, the official grabbed Wu Song's strong wrist!

Wu Song felt a sudden tightening on his wrist and looked up at the official in surprise.

The smile on the official's face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, still expression.

Meeting Wu Song's probing gaze, he shook his head almost imperceptibly, his eyes filled with an unyielding warning and gravity.

Wu Song's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stopped, lowered his eyes, and stood solemnly, not daring to move again.

Ximen Qing then released his grip, as naturally as if he had merely brushed a snowflake off Wu Song's shoulder. He turned to the guards and said gently, "It's freezing cold, brothers, you've really suffered. Just bear with it a little longer, there will be hot soup and rice to warm you up."

After saying that, he winked at Wu Song and said, "Erlang, come with me. I already told you about this on the way to Xing. I want to hear your version of events again."

Wu Song lowered his voice and gave a brief report.

After Wu Song finished speaking, the official remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Have the things in these boxes...the accompanying servants, ever seen them?"

Wu Song shook his head and said, "No. It was covered up tightly the whole way."

A glint flashed in Ximen Qing's eyes, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief, but also seemed to have become more calculating.

He leaned closer to Wu Song, his voice so low it almost blended into the howling wind and snow:
"Alright. Erlang, immediately take your men and, under the cover of night, transport this entire caravan to the small courtyard behind the silk shop in the east of the city, which serves as a warehouse. Be swift and efficient, and don't let a single word slip by!"

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and continued, "At the very back of that courtyard, against the wall, there's an abandoned ice cellar entrance, covered with a stone slab. Take these boxes with the 'marks' on them and lock them all inside the deepest part of that ice cellar, untouched! After locking them, you keep the key yourself and then hand it over to me."

"The land deed for this small courtyard still belongs to Zhang the landlord. I still have it in my hands, and I deliberately kept it from being signed with Zhang the landlord's family, just in case what happened today."

"Then," the official said in a deep voice, "tell all the servants who came back with the carriage that from today onwards, they must all stay quietly in that courtyard and not step out of the front door! Just say..."

"Well, just say the journey was tough, the wind and frost were biting, and you might catch some seasonal illnesses that could harm your relatives and children when you get back. You need to take good care of yourself for a few days. Three meals a day, plenty of good wine and meat! This month's wages will be tripled! In addition, everyone will receive a year's worth of silver as a year-end bonus!"

"The winter solstice is approaching! No one is allowed to go home to visit relatives. Everyone stay in the yard and 'rest' properly! Everything else... will be discussed later when I give further instructions!"

Wu Song understood immediately, knowing that this was no small matter. He clasped his hands in a fist and said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Master! I understand!"

The official nodded, his gaze sweeping over Lai Xing and Dai An, who stood respectfully to his side. The two men, their noses red from the cold, held their breath and remained focused, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

The high-ranking official stared at them, his voice not loud, but each word like an icicle striking the ground: "Did you all hear that? What happened today is known to Heaven, Earth, and everyone present! Don't let a word slip out, not even to the inner courtyard or to the old lady. If I hear even the slightest whisper outside..."

He sneered, and without needing to say the rest, his gaze was enough to make the two servants' knees go weak. They hurriedly bowed and swore, "We understand! We'd rather keep it to ourselves than utter a single word! Rest assured, Master!"

The official then grunted in acknowledgment and tightened his black fox fur cloak: "Let's go, into the city!"

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(End of this chapter)