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

Chapter 211 Yue Niang Competes for Favor: Women's Hearts, A Letter from the Grand Tutor's Mansion

The official stared at Chang Zhijie's ashen face with a half-smile: "Seventh Brother, is there even a trace of water mixed into Ying Er's words?"

Chang Zhijie shuddered at that gaze and abruptly raised his head: "Reporting...reporting to my good brother...every word is true, may I be struck by lightning, I dare not deceive you..."

He swallowed hard. "This padded jacket I'm wearing is...it's long gone. It just can't withstand this bone-chilling wind...I beg you, brother, to consider our past relationship, if you still have some spare change, please give me a few taels of silver, so I can...so I can at least get through this ordeal..."

His voice trailed off, almost whimpering, and he lowered his head again. "But... but I'm really in dire straits right now. I'm afraid the money... will have to be saved slowly... slowly, to repay your kindness, brother..."

Ying Bojue, standing to the side, felt a jolt in his stomach and cursed inwardly: That bastard Chang Laoqi, he had agreed to stick to fifty taels beforehand, but now it has turned into "a few taels of loose silver".
The phrase "pay back slowly" is utterly foolish; what creditor wants to hear that?
He was so anxious that he was practically grinding his teeth to powder, but he dared not show the slightest sign of distress on his face, yet he couldn't get a single word out.

The official leisurely sipped the tea Xiangling handed him, lazily lifting his eyelids: "Oh? Since it's a loan, there has to be an amount. How many taels of silver do you want to borrow?"

Upon hearing this, Ying Bojue, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, disregarded Chang Zhijie's earlier humiliation, straightened his back, and blurted out the words quickly and urgently before Chang Zhijie could stammer:

"Good brother! Old Chang is in a difficult situation, he's suffering terribly. What he lacks isn't just a few coins, but a shelter from the wind and rain, and a way to make a living!"

He spoke with spittle flying and gestured with his fingers, “Good brother, I’ve thought it all out for him: I don’t dare to dream of a grand house, just a cramped storefront facing the street, even if it’s so narrow that it can only fit two benches, can be a source of income to sell needles and thread, pancakes and fried dough sticks!”

"One bedroom, one guest room, and a small kitchen where you can turn around—four tiny rooms in total. That's enough to make a living! In this area, fifty taels of pure silver, including the deed, taxes, and broker's fee, is more than enough!"

"With this foundation, the seventh brother and his wife can tighten their belts, save every penny, and scrape together every penny to slowly repay the immense kindness you have shown me, brother, right?"

He spoke fluently and in one breath, his face full of fawning smiles, waiting for the master to speak. He was panting heavily, staring at Ximen Qing expectantly, afraid that the money would slip away.

Seeing that Chang Zhijie was still standing there dumbfounded, he quickly shoved him hard with his elbow: "Idiot! Still standing there like a corpse? You better hand over that loan agreement in your arms to your elder brother for a look!"

Chang Zhijie then seemed to wake from a dream, and quickly pulled out a neatly folded piece of mulberry paper from his pocket, which was the IOU that Earl Ying had asked him to write before he arrived. He presented it to the official with both hands.

The official casually extended two fingers, picked up the paper, and unfolded it. His eyes swept over it; the handwriting on the paper was neat and elegant, meticulous in every stroke, clearly showing that he had put in effort. The sentences were also well-structured, and the IOU was written in detail.

The official raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, flicking his fingertip across the ink stain. "The handwriting still has some strength," he remarked casually, handing the paper to Xiangling, the maid standing behind him, without turning his head. "Keep it."

Xiangling lowered her head obediently and accepted the gift, carefully tucking it into her sleeve.

The official then turned back, a playful smile on his lips, and looked at Chang Zhijie, saying, "You should give up your idea of ​​buying a shop to make a living."

“I’ll buy that courtyard and live there myself. As for the shop,” he paused, “I’ll rent it out and collect a few pocket money each month.”

Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Chang Zhijie's heart sank. But upon hearing the second half, the chill transformed into a warm current that rushed to his head, and he knew that the loan had been secured.

Ximen Qing's gaze fell on his humble and timid shoulders: "Being a hanger-on is a job that involves being exposed to the wind and sun and having to watch people's faces. You are also thin-skinned, so it is not a long-term solution."

“My silk shop and herbal medicine shop are short of a quick-witted and literate assistant for Mr. Fu Ming, the chief accountant. Go there tomorrow and learn the intricacies of these ledgers from Mr. Fu. If you do well, you'll have a stable job.”

Chang Zhijie felt a buzzing sound in his ears, as if a thunderclap had struck from nowhere, blasting him straight from the mud pit to the clouds!

Overwhelmed with immense joy, he cried out, "Thank you... thank you, Great Father, for your life-saving grace! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay even a fraction of your kindness!"

"Alright, we're all brothers." Ximen Qing waved his hand, the smile on his face fading. "You two get up and go sit in the side hall outside. I reckon Xie Xida and Wu Dian'en will be here soon. I'll take care of some official business and then go over. We agreed to drink until we drop today."

Earl Ying quickly pulled up Chang Zhijie, who was still dazed on the ground and as limp as a noodle. The two bowed and thanked him profusely before leaving the warm and fragrant hall.

Inside the warm room, the charcoal fire continued to emit warmth silently.

The official stood up and stretched his limbs: "Xiangling, go to Auntie's and get fifty taels of silver, wrap it up and send it to Chang Qi."

Xiangling responded sweetly, "Yes, sir," and with a sway of her pretty little bottom, she turned and quietly retreated into the back room.

The official's gaze swept over Dai'an, who was standing to the side, seemingly casually.

The fellow stood with his hands at his sides, bowing and scraping, eyes downcast, mouth downcast, trying to appear honest. But then his lips twitched as if by magic, his cheeks puffing out and shrinking, making him look like a toad trying to hold its breath, his face contorted in pain.

The official smirked and said lazily, "Dai'an, haven't you had enough of kneeling on the bricks of the ancestral hall? You've been kneeling all night, and you've even lost your tongue? If you have something to say, just say it. If you keep it bottled up, you might make things worse, and I'll have to call a doctor for you."

Dai'an was called out, and he shuddered. He immediately raised his head, and the slight annoyance on his face instantly transformed into a fawning yet slightly aggrieved smile. He took half a step closer and lowered his voice to a whisper:

"Uncle! That Second Master Ying is as slippery as an eel! He must have skimmed a thick layer of fat off the silk from that Huzhou merchant! And that fifty taels from Seventh Master Chang,"

"I don't believe he's that kind-hearted!" Dai'an curled his lip, looking disdainful. "With Chang Qi's cowardice, he's the kind of guy who wouldn't budge even if you beat him three times. Would he dare to shamelessly ask for fifty taels of silver?"

"Nine out of ten times it's a cut, and it's that Ying Erhuazi who's been skimming the top cut again! This bunch of scoundrels are good at playing both sides, sucking up the scraps from one family and then the other, and they're better at swindling than a dog licking a plate clean!"

The official, far from being annoyed, chuckled softly, "You rascal, you're getting better and better."

"This is Ying Er's livelihood. Without his scheming spirit and his silver tongue that can talk the dead and the living to death, how could the news about the Huzhou merchants have reached my ears so smoothly? Why did Chang Laoqi choose to walk into the trap that Ying Er had prepared, instead of seeking out others?"

The official paused for a moment: "There's a way to be a hanger-on. He's good at squeezing money out of me. The most important thing in life is to know your own limitations. If there's food in the pot, everyone should share it so that the pot can grow bigger and there will always be hot food in it."

"Don't be envious and greedy. If you see meat in someone else's bowl, don't be so reckless as to smash it! If you smash their bowl, will yours be full? Be careful, you might even smash the bottom of the pot, and then we'll all be starving!"

He paused, glancing outside the curtain: "Chang Qi seems more honest, loyal, and grateful than Ying Er, but beneath that honesty lies cowardice and a thin skin!"

"He can't do many of the shady dealings and underhanded things that are done behind the scenes. Only someone like Ying Er, who is thick-skinned, hard-hearted, and greasy, can handle it and make things go smoothly!"

The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the warm pavilion. The official drank the last of his tea in one gulp. The warm liquid slid down his throat, as if it were extinguishing an invisible fire in his chest.

His gaze was intense, piercing through the rising steam:

"Mr. Fu is old and will eventually retire. Chang Qi is young, knows a few words, and writes with some manners, which is a pleasant surprise."

"With my vast fortune, who knows how many more businesses I'll need to expand into in the future! The intricacies of the accounts, the complexities and intricacies, all require a discerning, loyal, and grateful person to take over. We'll see what they're capable of once we take them out for a spin."

The official paused for a moment, then continued, "I am not from a noble family with a whole clan of sons to choose from! Nor am I a scholarly gentry who can command countless scholars to follow me with a single call!"

"What I have is these scoundrels and hangers-on who wallow in the mud and lick blood from the edge of a knife in this quagmire of Qinghe County!"

"Who were the people standing around Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, when he gained the empire?" The high official's gaze swept across Dai'an, who stood with his hands at his sides, like lightning.

"Yan Wang Lu Wan was nothing more than a cockfighting and dog-racing rascal from his hometown of Pei County! Zan Hou Xiao He was just a minor clerk in charge of documents in the county government! Pingyang Hou Cao Can started out as a lowly clerk in charge of prisons! Wuyang Hou Fan Kuai was just a chicken and dog slaughterer from a poor family! Jiang Hou Zhou Bo made bamboo ware for silkworm rearing in his spare time, and when someone died, he would go and play music to make a living! Ruyin Hou Xiahou Ying was just a minor official in charge of the stables and horses!"

The official laughed and said, "Look at them! What kind of scoundrels are they? Aren't they all the same kind of scoundrels and hangers-on from the streets of Pei County back in the day!"

"Why is it that in the stories of those great rulers who created the world, there are always brilliant strategists and invincible generals appearing beside them?"

"Do you really think they're reincarnations of emperors, or generals descending to assist them?" The official shook his head: "Which of these people didn't roll through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, following their masters step by step, leaving bloody marks on every step of the way? They made countless mistakes and accumulated countless experiences before they became shrewd and cunning!"

He spoke fluently and passionately, spitting as he spoke, completely oblivious to Dai'an standing beside him.

The servant's face had long since lost all color, and the cold sweat on his back had instantly soaked through his inner shirt, clinging tightly to his skin, icy and bone-chilling.

His hands, hanging by his sides, trembled slightly uncontrollably, and his legs felt weak, almost causing him to collapse.

His mind was in turmoil, a thunderous roar echoing within him: "My goodness! My great-uncle... how dare he compare himself to Emperor Gaozu of Han? If even a whisper of this were to escape..."

"What's wrong?" The official noticed Dai'an's unusual behavior and raised an eyebrow.

Dai'an hurriedly shook his head like a rattle-drum, his voice becoming shrill and distorted: "No...nothing! Uncle! This...this humble servant must take his leave!"

"Stop!" Ximen Qing was taken aback by his flustered appearance. "Where are you going?"

Dai'an forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Uncle! I'm going to the martial arts arena! Master Wu hasn't trained me in stance training and boxing today! Without Master Wu's slap, my whole body is itching, like ants are crawling all over me! I can't take it anymore, so I'm going to Master Wu for a beating! To loosen up my muscles! Please, Uncle, grant me permission!"

The official laughed and said, "Did you run into some evil spirit today, or did you drink too much wine? Usually, the guy who would rather hide in a latrine for three days and three nights at the mere mention of 'Wu Er' is acting crazy today, offering his warm face to that iron palm?"

Dai'an dared not say that he also wanted to improve himself. Just as he was about to stammer, Ping'an rushed in with small, quick steps, holding a letter in his hand. He said breathlessly, "Father, a letter from Steward Zhai in the capital has just arrived. I dare not delay it for even a moment!"

Upon hearing the words "Chief Steward Zhai," the official's expression immediately turned serious. Knowing that a letter wouldn't arrive easily, he waved his hand and said, "Read it aloud so I can hear it!"

Ping An unfolded the letter, cleared his throat, and read aloud with intonation: "To Lord Ximen: It is as if we are meeting in person. The matter entrusted to me before is nothing more than a trivial matter, which you may handle at your leisure without worrying about it. However..."

Ping An lowered his voice slightly, with a hint of caution, "The person entrusted with this mission must be someone of impeccable character, upright conduct, and capable of withstanding the scrutiny of the inner court!"

"If you find a frivolous woman with an unstable foundation and questionable conduct, I'm afraid that if the woman by your bedside utters even the slightest dissent, she'll roar like a shrew from the east of the river, and all your previous efforts will be in vain!"

"These are my heartfelt words. I earnestly hope that you will understand my predicament of being 'henpecked.' Please, please think it through carefully. Only by getting past your wife's hurdle can you make a long-term and prudent plan! Remember! Remember!"

Upon hearing this, Dai'an couldn't help but chuckle, slapping his knee and exclaiming, "No wonder! No wonder! What kind of person is Steward Zhai? The powerful figure in the Grand Tutor's mansion, yet despite his imposing presence, he's actually afraid of his wife! It truly proves the old saying, 'One thing subdues another, just as brine curdles tofu!'"

Hearing this, Ping An chimed in, "Brother is right! How many men in the world are as wise and capable as our eldest father, managing the household so well? Only with such methods can he keep the household in order!"

Upon hearing this, Dai'an felt a surge of anger rising within him. He thought to himself, "What a scoundrel! These flattering words to our master are usually what I use to please him, but this guy beat me to it! Has he grown too big for his britches and is going to rebel?" He glared at Dai'an.

But the high-ranking official sat upright in his chair, his gaze calm and composed, and slowly shook his head, saying, "Stop making a fuss. There are two contradictions in this letter."

The official spoke calmly: "Firstly, if you really weren't in a hurry, why bother writing this letter specifically to say 'Don't rush!' If you really weren't in a hurry, you could simply continue writing the rest of the text. This single sentence is not a sign of not being in a hurry, but rather an attempt to urge you on."

He paused, then lowered his voice slightly: "Secondly, given Steward Zhai's status and experience, if he were merely afraid of his wife, he could have stated these conditions on the same day. Why wait so many days before sending a written statement to 'state' them?"

"This 'explanation' is clearly a message to you, Master—the Grand Tutor's test of you is imminent!"

"Tell me to be on my best and do this perfectly! If there is even the slightest mistake, not only will my future be ruined, but all the hard work I've put in will be for nothing!"
After listening to the official's analysis, Dai'an frowned and muttered, "My goodness! These 'high-ranking' people always speak in such roundabout ways! They hide things from us, like solving a riddle! Why can't they just say what they want to say directly? Why make us rack our brains like this!"

Upon hearing this, the high-ranking official couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh:

"Why is it that Steward Zhai is able to hold the golden seat of the Grand Tutor's mansion as the head steward? It's all thanks to his 'caution'! Since he intends to do such a thing as secretly helping others, how could he leave any trace in writing that would give others something to say? His correspondence must be watertight and completely unpredictable!"

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and with a sharp gaze, swept over Dai'an, his words becoming even more profound: "Besides, if the person he promotes can't even understand this little bit of implied meaning and meaning... what use is such a stupid person? He should just give up his ambition as soon as possible!"

The high-ranking official was instructing two servants.

Earl Ying and Chang Zhijie walked side by side out of the main hall and into a side hall. Chang Zhijie stopped and bowed deeply to Earl Ying, saying:
"Second Brother! Today, I am deeply grateful for your kind words in front of my elder brother! I understand the rules, and as soon as I receive the fifty taels of silver, I will immediately offer you ten taels as a token of my gratitude! Affection is one thing, but the rules of the underworld cannot be broken in the slightest!"

Upon hearing this, Earl Ying did not respond. Instead, he reached out and patted Chang Zhijie's shoulder heavily. The usual slick, playful smile on his face faded slightly, revealing a rare, complex expression. He sighed:
"Seventh Brother! You're treating me like an outsider! If I, Ying Huazi, were to pocket even this ten taels of your life-saving money, I'd be a real piece of work! I'd be so weak I couldn't withstand even a gust of wind!"

He paused, his voice lowering, tinged with self-deprecation: "You want to thank me? If you really want to thank me, then listen to your second brother's advice—serve diligently under Brother Ximen, and give it your all! Don't be like me, a good-for-nothing!"

“I, Earl Ying, am a rootless fence-sitter, and I accept that reputation! I’ll sway whichever wind blows the hardest, and I’ll do this kind of business! But Seventh Brother, do you know that I, your second brother… once had some wealth!”

"Back in the day, I was a man dressed in silk and satin, with servants at my beck and call. Though I couldn't compare to Hua Zixu, I was still a man who could urinate standing up!"

"Alas! I can only blame myself for being so short-sighted and weak-willed, unable to resist the allure of 'eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and prostitution'! I couldn't let go of that fragile physique to make a proper living!"

"It wasn't until... until all the shops passed down from our ancestors were sold off, and even the three-courtyard mansion was transferred to someone else's name, that I finally understood—this world! Face and backbone are all fucking worthless! Real, hard-earned money is what truly matters!"

He suddenly turned his head and stared at Chang Zhijie: "Seventh Brother! You say I don't sit on the fence? Do you think I dare not? My sickly wife at home, and my good-for-nothing but only son, how are we supposed to feed ourselves? Even if I sold my ass, who would buy it?"

At this point, his tone suddenly changed, becoming somewhat earnest: "But you're different! Seventh Brother! Among all of us brothers, you're the most honest and straightforward!"

"You, Chang Zhijie, are simply not cut out for the kind of work that involves flattery, joking around, and currying favor by sucking up to others! That's not your path! Now that your brother is willing to promote you and give you a proper job, this is a tremendous opportunity for you to escape the mire and change your circumstances!"

"Listen to your second brother, make sure you hold on tight! Don't miss a single thing!"

After listening to Ying Bojue's heartfelt words, Chang Zhijie remained silent. Instead, he bowed deeply to Ying Bojue, his back bent even lower and heavier than before.

He straightened up and nodded vigorously.

at this time.

Hua Zixu, Xie Xida, Sun Guazui, and their sworn brothers, having heard the news, all flocked into the room in droves.

Upon seeing the high-ranking official, without a word, they all knelt down in unison, shouting incoherently:

"Congratulations, brother! Congratulations, brother! This is an auspicious sign of soaring to great heights and boundless future!"

"Brother's future is limitless! We brothers are proud of him!"

"Brother, your rise to prominence is just around the corner! Don't forget to help your younger brothers out in the future!"

The powerful Ximen Qing sat upright in the hall, accepting the kneeling obeisances of the crowd. With a smile on his face, he raised his hand in a gesture of respect: "Brothers, please rise. We are brothers, why perform such a grand ceremony? Sit, all of you, sit!"

Everyone then rose and sat down in order. The hall was filled with flattery and praise. Li Jiao'er and Wu Yin'er also gracefully stepped forward and knelt down to kowtow to the official.

Li Jiao'er raised her face, her eyes filled with a hint of timidity and pleading, and said softly, "Father, if the Lichun Courtyard had any past..."

Before she could finish speaking, the official casually waved his hand, his posture carrying an indifferent air of someone who had suddenly risen above others and looked down upon all living beings: "Enough, it's all old news, why bring it up!"

That tone made even arguing seem superfluous; it was truly a world of difference.

Wu Yin'er was quick-witted and, seeing this, simply offered her congratulations sweetly before obediently standing aside.

This banquet was quite different from the two banquets held at the mansion in the previous two days.

The room was filled with sycophants like Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, and Sun Guazui, who were always good at making fun of others, and a few new young nymphs were singing little tunes while holding pipa and yueqin.

Once everyone was no longer restrained, they started joking and teasing the courtesan, trying their best to amuse the official and flatter him.

Lord Ying was especially enthusiastic, and as he spoke, he tickled the young girl, causing her to scream and hide behind Ximen Qing, which made the whole room burst into laughter.

Ximen Qing leaned back in the main seat, toying with his wine cup. Watching the lively, sycophantic scene before him, he squinted, enjoying the atmosphere of being the center of attention, with everyone trying their best to make him smile.

He thought to himself, "No wonder emperors throughout history have loved to curry favor with their ministers and sycophants! No matter what happens outside, once you enter this door, you're surrounded by flowers and sweet words, with people to cheer you up and make you laugh, throwing all your worries to the winds! Who wouldn't love this kind of life?"

The wine is "Jade Pot Spring", the dishes are "Mountain and Sea Feast", the music is "Soul-stirring Tune", and the words are "Honey Sweet".

They partied until the moon was high in the sky, and everyone had had their fill of fun before finally dispersing, tipsy as they went.

Ximen Qing hadn't actually drunk much wine today, but his body reeked of alcohol and perfume.

He waved away the servants who followed him, and with a touch of lazy ease, strolled back to the inner courtyard, heading straight for Wu Yueniang's room. His mistress had been quite busy these past two days, and he was curious about the etiquette she had been subjected to.

Upon entering, I noticed that the candlelight in the room was brighter than usual.

Instead of chanting Buddhist scriptures or looking at account books under the lamp as usual, Wu Yueniang stood in front of the dressing table with her back to the door, wearing only a close-fitting undergarment.

She was struggling to wrap a long, thin, plain white cotton cloth, about three fingers wide, tightly around her waist and abdomen, one loop after another!
On the small table next to it was a bowl of leftover herbal soup, dark brown in color, with a faint bitter smell of lotus leaves.

It turns out that Wu Yueniang was actually wearing a silk sash around her waist!

This is a method that was privately passed down among the women of officials and wealthy families. They would take a long, thin, and tough piece of cloth and wrap it tightly around their waist and abdomen after bathing at night. It was said to be able to "shrink the waist and flatten the abdomen". They would also take a "slimming soup" made from lotus leaves, hawthorn and other ingredients to achieve a slender figure.

However, this method restricts a person's breathing and is very difficult.

Ximen Qing was taken aback when he saw this scene.

Hearing the commotion, Yue Niang turned around abruptly. Upon seeing the man, she blushed deeply and frantically tried to pull her outer robe over herself to cover up her embarrassment. The half-wounded cloth hung loosely around her waist, making her look even more disheveled.

She was already plump and dignified, but now, due to embarrassment and exertion, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and the tip of her nose, and her chest rose and fell slightly, giving her a unique and lively appearance that was rarely seen on ordinary days.

When Ximen Qing saw her like this, he first found it a bit funny. The proper wife was actually behaving like a concubine.

But then, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

The Moon Goddess has always been dignified and strict about the proper conduct of a principal wife, yet now she's secretly engaging in this kind of shady business...

Needless to say, the manor has taken in several charming and alluring beauties these days. Although Yue Niang doesn't say it and puts on a magnanimous and composed front as the principal wife, she is still a woman after all!

This silent, unassuming act of binding her waist and abdomen—isn't it a secret scheme to outshine each other and vie for favor? She fears that she, as the eldest wife, will lose her beauty and be unable to hold onto her husband's heart!

The official strolled over, reeking of alcohol and the lingering scent of perfume, and reached out to pinch Yue Niang's still-plump waist, which she hadn't yet fully embraced. A cryptic smile played on his lips.
"Oh my! My dear wife! What's going on here? Instead of sleeping in the middle of the night, you're getting worked up over this cloth strip."

Wu Yueniang became even more embarrassed after Ximen Qing pointed it out. She lowered her head and said, "Master... I just feel that I've been feeling increasingly lethargic lately, and my waist and abdomen... seem a bit loose. I was thinking of wrapping myself up to make them tighter and more energetic..."

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing chuckled.

He stepped forward and, by the bright candlelight, openly surveyed Wu Yueniang's body. She was only wearing a close-fitting undergarment, and her figure was like a ripe peach, full and plump, with well-proportioned flesh and bones.

Her shoulders were rounded, her arms were like lotus roots, and her breasts bulged like piles of fresh snow under her thin clothes. Her waist had the plumpness unique to mature women, and her hips were like a full moon, and her legs were like solidified fat.

Because of the bindings, there were still a few faint red marks on the snow-white skin of her waist and abdomen, adding to her adorable plumpness.

As Yue Niang spoke, she hurriedly tried to untie the cloth wrapped around her waist. Under his burning gaze, she felt that this act of "tightening" was even more embarrassing than being caught in the act of having an affair.

The official's heart warmed at the sight. How could she have gotten fat? She was clearly the plump and dignified woman that a proper lady should have, nurtured in a life of luxury!

The thought arose in the official's mind, and he felt a mixture of pride and pity.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around Wu Yueniang's soft, plump waist, the touch warm and smooth to the touch:
"My dear Yue Niang! You're too sensitive! Do you think I'm the kind of person who only cares about skinny people?"
"Your body is the most comforting to my heart! Touching it is a real blessing, holding it is warm and cozy! Those skinny girls may look pretty, but none of them are as soft and muscular as you, perfect for a home."

"Even if you were as plump as a jade doll, I would still adore you! Why demean yourself by getting yourself into trouble with this cloth strip? Hmm?"

These explicit yet doting words of love were like scalding oil poured onto Wu Yueniang's heart.

She was both ashamed and overjoyed, her body had already gone limp, her cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and even her ears and neck were flushed pink. She was nothing like the stern lady she had been during the day.

Seeing the watery, shy look in her eyes, the official suddenly used his arms to lift the plump and soft wife up by the waist!

"Oh dear! Master!" Wu Yueniang exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around Ximen Qing's neck.

As dawn broke, the Ximen mansion was already brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Yesterday was a private banquet with friends and family, but today is a proper banquet to celebrate his official appointment.

The banquet was for Wu Yueniang's two older brothers and their families, as well as Jinlian'er's elderly mother.

And the neighbors, as well as the wealthy families they knew, the shopkeepers they dealt with regularly, and even the managers of the estates and shops who were dependent on the Ximen family.

As the mistress of the house, Wu Yueniang couldn't be idle for even a moment today.

She got up before dawn, suppressing the aches and pains from the previous night's ordeal, and mustered all her energy to take care of everything.

Although she was now fully dressed, in a brand-new crimson satin jacket and skirt, with a gold-threaded hairpin and a red gold hair ornament, she looked dignified and wealthy.

The instigator, the high-ranking official, slept in late.

Ping An, who was guarding the door, bowed and reported, "Reporting to you, sir! A clerk from the Provincial Judicial Office has come to deliver a message, saying that Judge Xia has instructed you to come to the Provincial Judicial Office after lunch. There is some very important business that needs to be discussed and decided in person!"

The official didn't even lift his eyelids, and simply said, "I know. Go and tell him that I understand, and that you will leave after the meal."

Ping An responded with a "Yes," and left with his hands at his sides.

The official suddenly realized that it must be related to the case of Cai Jing's birthday tribute.

He was not worried about the 100,000 taels buried deep in the cellar; on the contrary, he felt a sense of certainty. The land deed for the mansion was in Zhang Da Hu’s name, and there was no lease agreement. Even if something went wrong, the first person to be affected would be the deceased Zhang Da Hu.

Now that the case is in my hands, I have even less to worry about!

(End of this chapter)