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

Chapter 209 The Lord's Pampered Night

Shortly after.

Several muffled thuds were heard outside, mixed with the woman's suppressed cries of pain and sobs.

In the biting cold wind, snowflakes washed over the faces of these people.

Several head maids, including Xiren, Qingwen, Sheyue, Qiuwen, and Bihen, knelt down in unison on the cold, snow-covered blue brick floor!

The snow on the ground was still unswept and frozen solid; the cold air seeped straight into my bones through my thin cotton trousers.

They were all terrified and dared not utter a sound.

The courtyard was deathly silent, save for the howling wind and the silent falling snow.

Madam Wang closed her eyes again, her fingers moving the prayer beads with increasing steadiness, as if the cruel scene outside had nothing to do with her.

She addressed Feng Jie, who was lying on the ground, her tone returning to calm, even with a hint of "kindness": "Feng girl, get up. Just watch from here. Once they understand what's going on, they'll naturally know who 'stole' your seal and caused you this huge trouble. I will definitely give you an explanation."

Inside the warm room, the charcoal fire burned brightly, and the heat made one's face feel hot, almost as if the blood were boiling. But Sister Feng, feeling ice-cold all over, got up from the ground.

The thought of those shivering maids outside the curtain, like lambs to the slaughter, filled me with an even more chilling fear.

Her aunt, who usually ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist prayers, had a kind heart, but her seemingly casual act of "using someone else's knife to kill" and "killing the chicken to scare the monkey" was a hundred times more insidious and ruthless than she had expected!
Only then did Sister Feng realize that all her usual shrewd and calculating tricks were like child's play in the face of this cunning and ruthless woman in the inner quarters!

Madam Wang was clearly reminding her: No matter how powerful and influential you, Wang Xifeng, are in charge of this huge household, you are nothing more than another slightly more respectable but still vulnerable "head maid" in this bottomless mansion, who can be forced to kneel in this freezing cold at any time!
Without even lifting her eyelids, Madam Wang's voice was flat and icy: "Go, summon Xiren."

Yu Chuan'er responded and left. Not long after, Xi Ren entered with her head bowed, standing there holding her breath.

Madam Wang slowly opened her eyes and glanced at her: "I called you in for no other reason than to ask if you've seen Feng'er's personal seal? Or... did you accidentally take it?"

Xi Ren trembled slightly, lowered her head even further, but her voice remained steady: "Replying to Madam, this servant would never dare to touch Second Mistress's things, nor has she ever seen that private seal."

Madam Wang simply hummed in response, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.

Xiren felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quietly slipped out. Then, Musk Moon, Autumn Pattern... one by one, the clever maids were called in for questioning. The questions were all the same, and the answers were also very similar.

Madam Wang sat upright on the kang (a heated brick bed), fiddling with her prayer beads. Her face showed neither anger nor emotion, but the depths of her eyes were as cold as the snow outside.

It was Qingwen's turn.

Madam Wang seemed to have forgotten that there was someone kneeling outside, and deliberately left Qingwen out in the freezing cold, letting the wind howl like knives and the snowflakes fall on her body in a dense, fine spray.

She was so cold that her teeth chattered, her thin body trembled uncontrollably, and even Wang Xifeng's legs were starting to go numb. Only then did Madam Wang slowly utter two words:

"Her name is Qingwen."

The curtain was suddenly flung open with a "whoosh," and a gust of cold wind, carrying the scent of snow, swept in like a hungry wolf hunting for its prey.

Qingwen was practically being half-supported and half-pushed into the room. Her face was already as white as paper from the cold, and her lips had lost all color and turned bluish-purple.

Even though she was wearing a cotton-padded coat, her whole body was trembling uncontrollably when she knelt down.

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Madam Wang's face.

Her usually kind and gentle eyes stared directly at Qingwen's overly flamboyant pretty face:

"Qingwen! Raise your head! I'm asking you, did you dare to steal Feng's personal seal without permission? Speak!"

When Qingwen heard this abrupt and harsh question, her heart skipped a beat.

She raised her head as instructed, and her overly bright face, now deathly pale, was instantly exposed to Madam Wang's icy gaze.

Beneath her two arched eyebrows, which seemed to be furrowed but were not, her almond-shaped eyes were wide open, filled with astonishment and grievance, yet also with a stubborn refusal to back down.

The blush faded slightly, revealing a paler complexion, which made her lips appear even brighter, as if they had been adorned with rouge.

"Madam!" Qingwen's voice was clear and bright, her body still trembling. "I'm innocent! What makes you say that? I rarely even step into Second Madam's courtyard! Even if I had the greatest courage in the world, I would never dare to touch such important things!"

She finished speaking in one breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and her slender waist, due to her emotional excitement, showed a posture that was both delicate and strong.

"My lady, please understand! I am truly unworthy of the words 'unauthorized theft'! Although I am a lowly maid, I know the meaning of 'shame' and would never do such a shameless thing that would harm my master!"

Her voice carried a defiant spirit, quite different from the docile replies of Xiren, Sheyue, and the others.

Although the kneeling posture was delicate, the spine was straight.

As Madam Wang listened, her fingers, which were fiddling with the prayer beads, unconsciously stopped.

Her cold eyes were fixed intently on Qingwen's face.

Looking at Qingwen's pointed chin, her affectionate yet reproachful eyes, her shivering from the cold as if she were recovering from a serious illness, yet still possessing a graceful and charming figure like a sickly beauty, especially her pair of watery eyes that seemed to speak volumes...

Madam Wang's heart skipped a beat, and a strong sense of disgust mixed with an inexplicable irritation surged up.

That face! That figure! That captivating charm that comes naturally from those eyes and brows!

No wonder!
No wonder I felt a pang of unease and a nausea whenever I saw Qingwen! It wasn't just because she was the maid the old lady had forced upon Baoyu...

Instead, the lowly hussy kneeling before her bore a striking resemblance to the sickly man who had bewitched her son... a resemblance of seven or eight parts!

They all have such sloping shoulders and slender waists, and they walk with a swaying gait like willow branches!
They all have such expressive eyes, their gazes so intense they seem to draw out threads of emotion!

They all looked frail and sickly, yet they possessed sharp tongues that could choke someone to death!

Her precious son, with his soft heart, was a fool who would sigh even at the sight of flowers. How could he resist such a vixen hovering before his eyes day and night!

Madam Wang stared at Qingwen's beautiful yet deathly pale face, her voice barely audible, as if squeezed out from between her teeth, filled with even deeper disgust:
"What a sharp tongue you have! Do you think I'm blind and deaf? Do you think I don't know your usual arrogant manner? You're the most outstanding and competitive one in Baoyu's room, always acting all high and mighty! And you dare to talk back to me today? I think you're tired of living! Whether you stole it or not, you know in your heart!"

"Even if I can't get conclusive evidence to put you to death right now, do you think I can't deal with you? Just remember this: this mansion will never tolerate a wicked monster like you!"

“If I were to kick you out because of what happened today, even if you are unhappy, it wouldn't be up to you! Go back to your humble abode and keep a low profile! In the future... if I ever hear even the slightest rumor about your frivolous behavior, or if you dare to get involved with Baoyu even a little bit again…”

"...You'll find your 'good place' waiting for you! Don't blame me for being ruthless then! Get out! Crawl out of here right now! This mansion has no place for you!"

Qingwen's limbs and bones instantly froze!
She knew that saying another word would be futile.

With her body trembling, she could only force herself to kowtow to the cold "Bodhisattva," her nails digging deep into her palms, barely maintaining the last shred of dignity. She staggered to her feet, and without looking back, she lifted the curtain and rushed into the swirling snow outside.

Ximen Mansion.

The celebratory banquet for Ximen's promotion lasted from noon until the sun was setting.

The banquet was naturally filled with delicacies, both land and sea.

Although the eunuchs wore forced smiles during the banquet, and the military officers' words were laced with veiled sarcasm,

However, the Ximen family served a truly excellent feast, and the maids and servants of the Ximen family were quick-witted, attentive, and considerate in their service—adding charcoal when it was cold, fanning when it was hot, and offering hangover soup and hot towels when there was too much wine—so everyone was satisfied that no one could find fault with their attentiveness.

Even after they had eaten and drunk their fill, they were reluctant to leave. They invited the most popular courtesan in the courtyard to sing a few trendy tunes, and then served various exquisite fruit boxes, candied fruits, and pastries. Only then did everyone, burping contentedly and with a slightly tipsy sense of satisfaction, bow and take their leave. By the time the last distinguished guest had left, it was already dark.

Today, the esteemed official is the host and a newly appointed nobleman, so he is bound to be showered with congratulations from everyone. Even with his great capacity for tolerance, he can no longer bear it.

Back in the back hall, he felt dizzy and disoriented. He didn't care about his appearance and collapsed onto the drunken chair covered with thick brocade. His snoring was as loud as muffled thunder, and no one could wake him up.

Moon Lady, clutching her aching back, looked pale with exhaustion. Jinlian, Guijie, and Xiangling, among others, also had disheveled hair and were slightly sweaty. Seeing her husband slumped motionless in the chair, Moon Lady called Meng Yulou out to lend a hand.

There, Yue Niang, Gui Jie, Xiang Ling, Jin Lian'er, and herself, five delicate beauties, along with a few maids, surrounded the drunken Master Ximen, truly using all their charm.

You lifted my arms, I hugged my legs; you supported my waist, I steadied my head. Your sweet voices mingled with labored gasps, the scent of perfume and sweat mingling together. It took a tremendous effort to move this "drunken Vajra" inch by inch onto the bedroom bed.

The Moon Goddess carefully examined her husband's furrowed brows and sweat-dampened temples, feeling an overwhelming pang of heartache.

She gently brushed away the damp strands of hair from his forehead, her voice soft and gentle: "How did you get so drunk?"

She turned and ordered, "Quickly prepare a fragrant bath! Add a few drops of rose dew and sprinkle some sandalwood powder into the water! The master is covered in sweat and grease, so he needs to be thoroughly cleaned inside and out before he can sleep peacefully!"

Xiangling carefully dabbed away the beads of sweat on Ximen Qing's forehead and neck with a warm, rose-scented towel, her almond-shaped eyes misty with tears: "Master, you must be in so much pain..."

Li Guijie deftly unfastened Ximen Qing's rhinoceros horn belt and outer robe buttons, revealing his sweat-dampened inner garment.

She slipped her delicate hand inside and began to knead the man's strong chest.

Jinlian'er lagged behind, her small hands also wanting to knead those pectoral muscles, but she could only quickly and nimbly remove the official's boots and silk trousers, while her mouth rattled off a string of curses:
“My father! His snoring is like a drumbeat! Those heartless people only care about pouring you yellow soup, aren’t they afraid of ruining the precious flesh of us sisters!”

"Those damned eunuchs and military officers! They got our master so drunk he looked like he'd been pulled out of the water! All his good skin and flesh were soaked in their sweat and liquor! A bunch of old killers ate and drank our food and drank our wine, and then they tormented our master!"

The fragrant soup, wafting with a rich aroma, was carried in.

Moon Lady instructed, "Come, remove all the clothes on Master's body that are stained with wine and sweat, and use this fragrant water to wipe them carefully."

Four pairs of delicate hands moved swiftly up and down.

Jinlian'er was the most skilled at peeling, and in just a few strokes, she had stripped the official's upper body naked, revealing his muscular chest and arms, with beads of sweat rolling down his back.

He snatched the hot towel and began rubbing it on the oily chest with practiced ease. His eyes lingered on the bulging pectoral muscles and round belly, as if he wanted to take a bite.

Li Guijie and Xiangling held the master's thick arm and carefully wiped it with warm towels, not even sparing the armpits.

Yue Niang then took a soft, delicate handkerchief and gently wiped Ximen Qing's face and neck, as if caressing a precious jewel.

After wiping her upper body, Jinlian'er reached out and grabbed the towel around the master's waist, pulling it down forcefully!
Xiangling exclaimed "Ah!" so quickly, instinctively covering her face with her hands.

"It's my own master, he's seen it all before!" Jinlian continued to curse the person urging her to drink, as she and Li Guijie wiped themselves all the way down the road.

Jinlian'er then gently pinched the man's firm calves with pity, as if afraid that her father's blood would become stagnant.

Meng Yulou, standing to the side, watched with a parched throat and pounding heart. Although she had been married once, she had never served a man so closely before.

I wanted to go and help, but I was too embarrassed.

Seeing her embarrassment, Yue Niang raised an eyebrow, handed her a hot towel, and said lightly, "Yu Lou, don't just stand there. Go and wipe the master's feet properly."

Meng Yulou took the handkerchief, her heart pounding wildly.

She glanced at the empty space on the edge of the bed, turned sideways, and gracefully sat down.

The bed wasn't high, so when she sat down, her two beautiful legs, clad in a thin jacket and trousers, were crossed at an angle, revealing a section of plump, soft leg flesh, with bulging thighs and full calves.

She bit her lip, reached down to the man's heel, and with a forceful push, placed his heavy foot directly on her thighs!
Who knew that even when his master was drunk, his feet wouldn't stay still!

Perhaps because of the uncomfortable position, that big foot suddenly kicked Meng Yulou's leg!
"Ah!" Meng Yulou was caught off guard and her waist went limp from the kick. Her body swayed and her pink cheeks instantly turned red, even her ears felt burning hot.

She hurriedly glanced up and saw that Yue Niang and the others were focused on wiping Ximen Qing's upper body, and it seemed that no one was paying attention to her embarrassing situation. She calmed down a little, but her heart was pounding like a drum.

Meng Yulou felt unbearably hot all over. No longer daring to support the man's foot with just her thighs, she gritted her teeth and pressed her legs together to hold the man's wriggling ankle in place! Only then did she manage to calm herself down, holding her almost suffocating breath, and with one hand she pressed down hard on the foot trapped between her legs, while with the other hand she shakily picked up a towel and carefully wiped the foot, starting from the instep.

The candlelight flickered red, and steam rose from the candle.

Five beautiful women surrounded a drunken official, some squatting and some standing, their bodies exuding fragrance.

The aroma of fragrant soup, the scent of cosmetics, and five different body odors mingled together with a strong masculine scent and the smell of alcohol.

Handkerchiefs fluttered, water pattered, and several beauties' gazes swept over the naked body like hooks, a mixture of affection, rivalry, jealousy, shame, and envy.

All that could be heard were heavy breathing, low, coquettish complaints, and Jinlian'er's relentless, ever-changing curses at the two old eunuchs.

The beauties finally wiped the official clean, and they themselves were drenched in sweat.

Moon Lady wrapped Ximen Qing up in a large cotton cloth and tucked him into a brocade quilt. Seeing that his snoring had become more even, she straightened up, let out a long sigh, and said to everyone with a tired look on her face, "Alright, you've all been up all night, and you're all exhausted. Go back and rest. I'll stay here and watch over the master."

As soon as she finished speaking, Pan Jinlian was the first to step forward, twisting her body and saying, "Auntie, you've had a long day too, how can I let you stay up? I'm full of energy, I'll take care of Father!" Li Guijie also hurriedly said, "That's right, Auntie, you rest, we sisters will take turns looking after Father." Xiangling nodded timidly in agreement.

Moon Lady smiled and waved her hand: "I know you all love the master, but none of you have been in the household for long. How many of you have actually served the master when he's drunk? If he vomits in the middle of the night, or has a headache from drinking, can you handle him and know what to do? You'll just panic and make things worse!"

"You're all exhausted today. Go back and get a good night's sleep. There will be plenty of time for you to learn how to serve this drunken master later! Also, there's a banquet tomorrow, for the county magistrate and several county officials. It doesn't need to be as grand and elaborate as it is today, but you still need to be careful."

Jin Lian'er and the others nodded, looking dejected, and could only slowly move towards the door, glancing back every few steps.

Meng Yulou had already wrung out her handkerchief and folded it neatly. With her head down, she silently followed the others out.

As she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped, as if she had made up her mind, and abruptly turned around.

The candlelight illuminated half of her profile; her slender neck was bowed, but her voice was clear, with a barely perceptible tremor: "Auntie..."

She called out, and when Yue Niang looked up, she continued, "You...you've had a long day, running around taking care of everything. It must have been so tiring. Here...at today's banquet, I was the clumsy one, not helping at all, just eating and sitting around all day. Why don't...why don't I stay and take care of Master? You can get some rest for the night."

Upon hearing this, Yue Niang was taken aback. She looked Meng Yulou up and down, her eyes filled with scrutiny and suspicion: "You?" She dragged out that one word for a long time.

Meng Yulou felt uneasy under her gaze, her fingers tightly twisting the hem of her clothes, and her head drooping even lower.

Yue Niang's gaze swept over the woman's blushing ears and slightly heaving chest, then glanced at the drunken Ximen Qing on the bed. She suddenly chuckled to herself, thinking, "Indeed, she's a woman who's been married before. Even though she's a widow, she must have seen her share of things. Serving a man is certainly better than those virgins."

The doubt on her face dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief. She stood up, patted Meng Yulou's shoulder, and softened her tone: "Alright then. Since you have the heart and are sensible, I'll leave it to you."

She pointed to the low stool by the bed and the prepared warm water and hangover soup, "Be alert, listen to the sounds. If you vomit, clean up quickly; if you need water, the warm water is right next to you. I'm in the next room, so if anything happens, come and call me immediately."

After saying that, he didn't look at anyone else and went straight out the door.

Pan Jinlian watched helplessly as Yue Niang assigned the task to Meng Yulou, and upon hearing Yue Niang's comment, "Another sensible one," she felt a surge of jealousy that made her insides churn! She grabbed the arm of Xiang Ling, who was still standing there in a daze:
"Come on! What are you still standing here for? Humph! We won't get a share of this warm bed tonight! Who told us we don't have the 'successful marriage' experience! Xiangling, come with me!"

The words "married before" were pronounced heavily and loudly, carrying a strong sense of disdain and jealousy.

Meng Yulou stood there, her face as if covered with a layer of fine white porcelain glaze, completely still.

Neither ashamed nor angry, she didn't even lift her eyelids, but slightly bent her knees and bowed in the direction where Yue Niang had left, as if to acknowledge her. She didn't even bother to glance at Jin Lian's provocation.

Jinlian's vicious punch was like hitting a pile of cotton, without even making a sound!

Her eyebrows furrowed and her almond eyes widened, but she ultimately dared not act rashly. She could only stomp her foot angrily, grabbing Xiangling who was being pinched and wincing, and dashed out the door like a gust of wind, slamming the curtain down with a loud "bang!"
After Yue Niang and the others left, only the flickering candlelight remained, reflecting Ximen Qing's deep snores.

Meng Yulou blew out several bright lamps, leaving only a small gauze lamp by the bedside, casting a dim and ambiguous light.

Following the instructions of the Moon Goddess, she placed a small brocade stool at the foot of the canopy bed, next to the footrest.

She sat down sideways, curling up slightly, hugging herself with her arms, and resting her chin on her knees.

At first, she tried to stay awake, listening intently to the sounds coming from the bed. But slowly, she hugged her knees, her consciousness gradually fading, and she drifted into a hazy, light sleep.

She didn't know how much time had passed. A series of heavy, irritating groans suddenly startled Meng Yulou awake!
The official had already lifted most of the quilt and struggled to sit up.

"Master? Master, you're awake?" Meng Yulou quickly got up and went to the bedside, his voice hoarse from just waking up and with a slight, barely perceptible tremor.

The official, still drowsy from drinking, struggled to point under the bed.

Meng Yulou's face flushed instantly, the blush spreading from her cheeks to her neck, and even her ears felt hot.

Although she had been married before, she had never served a man like this before. She could only suppress her shame and said in a trembling voice, "Master, please don't be in a hurry. I... I will serve you right away."

She frantically dragged the celadon tiger from under the bed.

"Master... this servant... this servant is here to help you..." Meng Yulou's voice was barely audible, her face flushed red as if it were about to bleed.

When the official Qing let out a long, satisfied "Mmm..." his body went limp, as if his bones had been removed, and he fell heavily back onto the pillow!
Meng Yulou returned to the bedside, but the official was already snoring loudly again, fast asleep, as if nothing had happened.

She gazed at the man with a dazed look. His eyebrows, which were originally handsome and dashing, now revealed a rugged and heroic air rarely seen in him, thanks to the steam rising from the alcohol. His heavy breathing even mixed the warm fragrance of the room with the masculine scent of strong liquor.

Her gaze drifted, and somehow it slid down from that face and landed on her own pair of delicate hands.

These hands, so white and slender, with ten delicate fingers tinged with a faint sap of balsam, were usually used for needlework, abacus work, or pouring wine. But now, they seemed to be stained with something unclean, burning with a sudden, unsettling heat.

As if possessed, she brought her delicate hand to her nose and took a deep sniff.

A strong, murky smell of alcohol, mixed with the unfamiliar sweat on the man's body, hit me right in the head!

That sniff was like a bucket of snow water poured over her head, making her tremble all over and her soul instantly return to her body.

A surge of heat suddenly rose from my heart, burning up my cheeks. In an instant, my face turned as red as a ripe cinnabar plum, so red it seemed like it could drip blood, even my small earlobes were flushed.

She panicked so much she could barely stand, and hurriedly hid her hands behind her back as if they were no longer her own, stained with something shameful.

Like a startled raccoon, it suddenly shrank back, its body curling tightly on the cold brocade, wishing it could curl into an invisible bead.

She tightly hugged her bent knees with both arms, her chin resting on her kneecaps, revealing only a pair of watery almond-shaped eyes. Still shaken, she couldn't help but steal glances at that drunken face again.

Like a startled clam, it tightly closes its shell, but inside, a turbulent undercurrent is already surging.

The next day at noon, the flower hall of the Ximen Mansion was already a completely different place.

The decadent scene of yesterday, filled with the smell of alcohol and littered with cups and plates, has been swept away. The scarlet carpet is laid out straight, and the large round table of nanmu wood is set with fresh fruits and exquisite dishes. Several servants in blue robes stand at attention, holding their breath.

The main seat was empty, while the seats to the left and right were occupied by County Magistrate Li of Qinghe County and several important civil officials from the government offices, who had already arrived.

They were all dressed neatly, their faces filled with utmost respect, but their eyes kept glancing towards the passageway outside the hall, revealing a hint of caution.

A moment later, the sound of boots clattering and jade pendants jingling could be heard.

The high-ranking official, now dressed in casual clothes, strode in, flanked by his two personal servants, Dai'an and Ping'an. There was no trace of the drunkenness of the previous night on his face.
With piercing eyes and a commanding presence, he exuded an aura that clearly made him the true ruler of Qinghe County.

"Oh my! Your Excellency has arrived!" Magistrate Li sprang to his feet as if springs had sprung from his bottom, his face beaming with smiles. He rushed forward and bowed deeply to the ground: "We have been waiting for Your Excellency for a long time!" The other civil officials also hurriedly rose and bowed in return, saying repeatedly, "Greetings, Lord Ximen!" "Greetings, Your Excellency!"

A faint smile played on Ximen Qing's lips as he gestured with his hand, saying, "Fellow colleagues, why stand on ceremony? Please sit down!"

His gaze swept over the empty seat of honor, then turned to Magistrate Li: "Magistrate Li, you are the father and mother of this county, and today is my private banquet, so you should sit in the seat of honor."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Li was so flustered that he bent over even lower, waving his hands repeatedly, his smile almost squeezing out wrinkles.
"Oh dear, Your Excellency, you flatter me! Absolutely not! Your Excellency is a fifth-rank official appointed by the imperial court. There is a distinction between superiors and inferiors. How dare I overstep my bounds? This seat is none other than Your Excellency's! It is none other than Your Excellency's!"

As he spoke, he stole glances at Ximen Qing's expression. Seeing that he was not angry, he straightened his back slightly, but refused to move an inch.

The other civil officials chimed in, showering him with praise like stars around the moon, saying all at once, "Exactly! Your Excellency's dignified bearing is perfectly suited to the seat of honor!" "Magistrate Li is absolutely right. There is proper order of rank. Please take the seat of honor, Your Excellency!" "It is already a great honor for us to be able to serve Your Excellency!"

Seeing everyone's reaction, Ximen Da Guanren stopped refusing and laughed heartily. With a flick of his sleeves, he sat firmly in the main seat of the golden chair.

His gaze swept across the entire room, and the gloomy aura of being subservient to others had long since vanished, replaced by an imposing aura that looked down upon everything.

Everyone in the hall stared at the imposing Ximen, dressed in a python robe and jade belt, sitting in the main seat, and for a moment they were all somewhat dazed.

Yesterday he was a wealthy merchant who needed the protection of these "parent officials," but today he is a high-ranking official in charge of criminal investigations, wielding the power of life and death!
This change of identity was as swift as a face-changing act on a stage.

The slight reserve and composure of the past have now transformed into awe, weighing heavily on my heart.

He felt as if the man before him, Lord Ximen, was from another world, yet also as if he were meant to be this way.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere in the hall was lively and filled with the clinking of glasses. Magistrate Li and his entourage used all their wit and charm, saying exactly what the high-ranking official wanted to hear, and frequently raised their glasses in toasts.

At that moment, outside the imposing black lacquered gate of the Ximen mansion, a timid figure approached again.

It was Chang Zhijie. He returned empty-handed yesterday and was scolded by his wife all night. He had no choice but to come back today, even though he was in a bad mood.

The gatekeeper, seeing him arrive again, didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, and lazily said, "Master Chang, you've come again? Is it Magistrate Li today, or just like yesterday? If you dare to come in, I'll let you in."

Upon hearing the words "County Magistrate," Chang Zhijie's forced smile instantly froze, turning ashen.

He stood there for a moment, trembling slightly before the vermilion gate, like a withered leaf felled by the autumn wind.

My wife's words from yesterday, as if possessed, echoed in my ears again: "...Now he's a fifth-rank official! What are you? Do you still think you're the same as when you swore brotherhood as the ten sworn brothers? I'm afraid you can't even get through the door!"

"Sigh..." Chang Zhijie let out a long, heavy sigh from deep in his throat, full of bitterness and helplessness. He kicked away an unsightly pebble at his feet, which rolled into the roadside ditch and disappeared without a trace.

After the banquet that day, the official got drunk again, and Meng Yulou, familiar with the routine, stayed up all night to keep watch.

Day three.

A fierce north wind howled in Bianliang, the capital of Tokyo, and snowflakes fluttered against the thick Korean paper pasted on the windows of the warm pavilion.

Inside, however, it was warm as springtime, with the floor heating up and the beast's mouth exhaling warm air.

Grand Tutor Cai, dressed in a black fox fur coat, reclined on a rosewood couch covered with a thick velvet blanket. Beside the couch was an exquisite bronze lion-shaped incense burner, from which wisps of warm smoke from agarwood incense rose.

Several maids knelt before the bed, gently massaging his legs and shoulders with jade pestles, their strength just right.

Steward Zhai Qian, dressed in a thick blue satin cotton robe with unmelted snowflakes still clinging to the brim of his hat, stood breathlessly by the rosewood screen about ten feet away from the couch, clutching a letter tightly in his hand. The letter's cover bore the inscription "Respectfully sealed by Liang Shijie of Daming Prefecture," and it was an urgent report sent by his son-in-law, Liang Zhongshu, on horseback overnight.

Cai Jing closed his eyes slightly, seemingly enjoying the laziness and tranquility of the warm pavilion, only humming the word "nian" through his nose.

Zhai Qian cleared his throat, which was slightly hoarse from the cold air, unfolded the letter, and respectfully read aloud:

"Dear Father-in-law, Your unfilial son-in-law, Shijie, is filled with trepidation and humility, bowing a hundred times in reverence. Today, I have prepared a birthday tribute of 100,000 strings of gold, jewels, and precious stones, which my wife and I painstakingly collected, and we present it to you as a special gift for your birthday. We have entrusted Commander Yang Zhi, along with the old steward and the two lieutenants, and eleven strong soldiers to escort it..."

"...The soldiers, exhausted, rested in the woods. Suddenly, they encountered seven date merchants and a wine seller... Yang Zhi, being careless and unaware of their deception, allowed the soldiers to buy wine to quench their thirst... But after drinking it, they were all drugged and knocked to the ground..."

Zhai Qian glanced at his grand tutor, who remained expressionless, and continued reading with a forced smile: "...Seven thieves and the wine seller, a total of eight...robbed all 100,000 strings of gold and jewels...Yang Zhi, that scoundrel, sobered up and, seeing that he could not escape punishment, fled in fear of punishment, and his whereabouts are unknown...The thieves came and went without a trace, leaving only empty carts and scattered loads on the hill..."

For a long while, Cai Jing's eyelids didn't twitch, as if he were asleep. Just as Zhai Qian was about to quietly ask for instructions, he saw the Grand Tutor's lips slowly curve upwards into a subtle arc.

“Interesting…” Cai Jing finally spoke, his voice light and airy: “Send me my official letter: Instruct the Prefect of Jizhou to immediately put aside all his duties and travel day and night to the capital to see me. Also, who is the Chief Justice of Shandong again?”

(End of this chapter)