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

Chapter 215 Daiyu's Angry Rebuttal to Baoyu, the Taoist Sect's Plans

Gongsun Sheng sensed the thunderous intent in his words.

This "leading figure of the younger generation of Taoists" has long since abandoned any secluded airs or otherworldly demeanor.

At this moment, he shrank back, not daring to look directly at the person at the head of the table.
This person is not as easy to talk to as his master. This person is none other than the number one Taoist master in the world today—Master Lin Lingsu!
Master Lin's methods are truly formidable!

They actually elevated the Shenxiao lineage to a position of prestige almost on par with the state religion.

Even the deeply rooted Maoshan and Longhu sects must bow their heads in submission to his imposing presence.
As for Buddhism, it was suppressed to the point of near collapse and had little chance of improvement.

Looking closely at the prefectures and counties across the country today, Buddhist temples are dilapidated, incense offerings are scarce, and abbots everywhere are begging for alms and soliciting donations from all directions for repairs. Where is the image of the fat, well-fed, and content monks of the past!

All of this was within the reach of Master Lin.

This is not finished!
What is even more remarkable is that Master Lin was well aware of the principle that "Taoist teachings are consistent with the laws of the land," and he actually persuaded the officials to establish official precepts and regulations for Taoist practitioners throughout the land, thus bringing the Taoist sect into the ranks of the court officials.

The current imperial court has followed the civil and military ranks and established twenty-six ranks of "Taoist officials" for the Taoist community, with titles such as "Golden Altar Gentleman" and "Azure Void Gentleman," which are extremely noble and prestigious.

Furthermore, eight ranks of "Taoist positions" were established, such as "Attendants of the Palaces at Dawn" who were in charge of the fasting and rituals in the Forbidden City, "Collators of Records" who were in charge of the Three Caverns True Texts, and "Instructors of Scriptures" who were in charge of transmitting the orthodox teachings of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect). It was as if a strict set of ranks had been established separately within the Taoist sect.

This Master Lin himself was bestowed with the golden title "Tongzhen Daling" by the Emperor and was actually appointed "Chonghe Hall Attendant at Morning," making him the foremost Taoist priest before the Emperor.

There are over a thousand "official Taoist priests" living near the capital city alone, who receive imperial stipends and wear rank-based Taoist robes.

Truly, the air was filled with purple mist, and the officials in their regalia were like clouds.

Just two years ago.

An imperial edict was issued throughout the land: every prefecture and county must build a "Shenxiao Yuqing Wanshou Palace"!
Each palace naturally required the appointment of Daoist officials by Master Lin to "manage" it.

There are at least 20,000 Daoist officials in the world who are paid by the emperor!
This does not include the countless believers, including many secular officials who were desperate to curry favor with Master Lin and hoped to get some benefits from him.

Lin Lingsu, the number one Taoist in the world, managed to transform the quiet and inactive Taoist sect into a behemoth called the "Taoist Official Office," brazenly squeezing into the ranks of eunuchs, civil officials, and military officials, becoming the fourth force that no one could ignore!
"Master Lin... Master Lin, please understand! Your disciple is incompetent. It was truly those scoundrels who were so vile and despicable! Their methods were vile and they had no sense of chivalry whatsoever. Your disciple was caught off guard and fell into their trap, which led to... which led to the failure to complete the mission."

Gongsun Sheng's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

The mission failed, especially in front of the number one Taoist master, the pressure was immense.

Lin Lingsu didn't even lift her eyelids, only letting out a cold snort from her nostrils. That "snort" was like an ice pick piercing the air, carrying endless mockery and a hint of anger.

The temperature inside the hall seemed to drop several degrees.

"Hmph..." he spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but each word clear and distinct, carrying the sound of metal and stone.

"Fallen by a filthy scoundrel? Gongsun Sheng, have all your years of cultivation gone to waste?" He paused, then finally opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing Gongsun Sheng. "Do you know where this scoundrel came from, daring to ruin my important plans?"

Gongsun Sheng was startled by that gaze and dared not look directly at it. He quickly bowed even deeper and said, "Reporting to the Master, although I was ambushed, I did hear them shouting about Qinghe County in the chaos!"

"Qinghe County?" Lin Lingsu uttered these three words, her brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He tapped his fingers lightly twice on the smooth satin surface of the brocade couch, producing a dull, clear sound that was particularly distinct in the silent hall.

“Since it’s Qinghe County…” A glint flashed in Lin Lingsu’s eyes, as if she had made a decision in an instant, “When you go back, take a detour to Qinghe County.”

“That birthday tribute is worth 100,000, which is quite a lot. Since it didn’t fall into the hands of the group we selected, and instead benefited those lowlifes, why don’t we… take it back by our Daoist sect? That would be a good use of it.”

Gongsun Sheng dared not hesitate and immediately replied, "Yes, disciple obeys. I will definitely find out where it is and find a way to retrieve it."

Lin Lingsu nodded slightly, the frost on her face seeming to melt a little, but her eyes remained deep and unfathomable. "Very well,"

He seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps comforting Gongsun Sheng, "The birthday tribute was meant to be robbed anyway. As long as it doesn't end up in the hands of that old scoundrel Cai Yuanchang... we've at least achieved our goal."

He changed the subject, his gaze returning to Gongsun Sheng with a scrutinizing look: "How are those people you selected? Are they still reliable?"

This is what he really cares about.

The birthday gifts were an accident; the "chosen people" were the key pieces in his scheme.

Gongsun Sheng's spirits lifted, and he quickly replied, "Reporting to the Master, I have been secretly observing them for quite some time. Although those people are of humble origins, they are no ordinary individuals. The leader is quite brave and bold, and he also has wise and resourceful people around him. Although their actions seem reckless, they are also quite methodical."

"After the failed attempt to seize the throne, they also suffered some injuries and are currently recuperating in a secluded manor." He paused, then added, "In my opinion, they are indeed excellent candidates for us, an unsharpened blade. If the Master wishes to 'raise a tiger,' these individuals may prove their worth."

"Oh?" A hint of satisfaction flashed in Lin Lingsu's eyes. "Courageous and resourceful... Good, very good." He nodded slightly and gave his final instruction: "In that case, after the matter in Qinghe County is settled, you don't need to rush back to the mountain. Continue on your way, assist them, and help them strengthen their foundation."

"You must take good care of them and not let the authorities wipe them out too early. Understand?"

"Yes, Master!" Gongsun Sheng understood.

"Hmm. Go ahead!" Lin Lingsu snorted, her eyelids drooping, seemingly half-asleep, perfectly embodying a peaceful and carefree demeanor.

Seeing the immortal's state, Gongsun Sheng bent his back even lower, about to quietly retreat, when he heard another idle remark drifting from the prayer mat, carrying an undisguised disdain:

"Wait! Look at your filthy state! Ragged clothes, covered in blood, you look like a mangy dog ​​that just rolled out of a mud pit! Hurry up and go to the Imperial Hospital to find some plasters to cover your rotten flesh, and find a whole Taoist robe to change into! This filthy appearance is not only an eyesore for our patriarch in the Taoist temple, but also a disgrace to the reputation of our Taoist sect!"

"Yes, yes! This disciple thanks the True Man for his mercy! This disciple will go right away!" Gongsun Sheng replied repeatedly in fright, cold sweat pouring down his back. He dared not breathe, hunched over like a shrimp, and shuffled out of the imposing, chilling main hall.

With his feet on the bluestone slabs outside the hall, Gongsun Sheng finally let out the breath he had been holding in with a long "whoosh," and his muscles and bones, which had been taut like a bowstring, relaxed a little.

He looked down at himself and realized that he did indeed look like a proper Taoist priest.

The Taoist robe, neither new nor old, had several bloody tears in the front and was covered in yellow mud and black ash on the back. Several scars, rubbed raw by the coarse cloth, stung painfully.

The faces of those scoundrels from Qinghe County immediately flashed before my eyes again—lime powder flying everywhere blinded me, countless tripwires and nets covered my head, and there was a burly man as big as an iron tower, whose punches and kicks were like drums hitting my body... That feeling of being trapped in the middle, suffocating and wanting to die, blocked my throat again, and even the wounds all over my body started to throb and act strangely.

'Even a hero can't fight four hands, and a fierce tiger can't withstand a pack of wolves...' Gongsun Sheng felt as bitter as if he had swallowed bitter herbs.

Although the master sent him to Qinghe County to find the whereabouts of the birthday tribute, wouldn't it be like a lamb entering a tiger's den, just throwing his life away for nothing if he went in alone?

His eyes darted around a few times, and he was already calculating in his mind: 'Qinghe County... we absolutely must leverage their influence in this matter...'

Upon arriving in Qinghe County, the first thing to do is to find the Taoist official in charge and reveal the true identity of the Taoist master.

Then the local official would step in, deliver a message to the provincial judicial office and the county government, and spend some money to persuade those officials in black boots and gauze hats to secretly help with the investigation.

Using the government's influence as a front makes things much easier.

No matter how fierce those hooligans are, would they dare to openly defy the law?
However... one must be extremely careful in handling the nuances of this matter.

He steadied himself, enduring the excruciating pain of his flesh being torn apart, and dragged his injured leg, limping hurried toward the Imperial Hospital.

The most important thing right now is to quickly tidy ourselves up and make ourselves look presentable, lest we truly live up to the Master's words, embarrass ourselves, and dishonor the dignity of the Taoist sect.

Xue Pan had tried to arrange a meeting with Jiang Yuhan several times, but Jiang Yuhan was always busy with her acting and he couldn't get an appointment with her each time.

Finally finding some free time, Xue Pan was overjoyed and eagerly wanted to invite Baoyu. Hearing from the servant Beiming that Baoyu was in the inner courtyard, he asked Beiming to invite Jia Baoyu to his residence in the back courtyard.

On second thought, Baoyu, that phoenix egg, has always looked down on a rough and uncouth person like himself, so he would definitely not come.

Then he pulled Beiming aside again, winked and whispered a few words of advice before letting him go.

At this moment, Baoyu was in the main room, feeling like an ant on a hot pan.

A group of beautiful young women, all dressed in pink and white, were circling around Lin Daiyu. They left him, the phoenix egg, standing outside like a spectator watching flowers from across the river, making him anxiously pace back and forth. He saw Daiyu, along with Tanchun, Xiren, Xiangyun, and several clever maids like Sheyue and Qiuwen, their fragrant, pretty heads huddled together, pointing and gesturing at a scroll, completely absorbed, laughing and giggling, leaving him standing there, anxiously waiting.

Baoyu, unable to contain his curiosity, grinned and leaned closer, like a greedy cat, asking with a fawning smile, "Good sisters, good older sisters, what rare thing are you looking at? Let me see it too, broaden my horizons? Or are you hiding some good fruit that you're not letting me eat?"

The ladies were so captivated by the painting that they paid him any attention. They simply swayed their slender waists and willow-like figures, presenting their fragrant backs to him, exclaiming and giggling incessantly. "Wow! It's alive!" "Tsk tsk, the spirit..." "Indeed! It's even more refined than the real thing!"

Baoyu, however, was not about to give up. He was like a mangy dog ​​begging for food, nudging Daiyu's sleeve with his left hand and sniffing Tanchun's skirt with his right, pleading incessantly with a sweet, clingy tone.

"Good sister, dear sister, just let me see it once, just once! I promise I'll be very careful and won't break a single thing... If there's even the slightest mistake, you can beat me to death!"

Daiyu was annoyed by his pestering. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she turned around abruptly. Her eyes, which were usually filled with dew, were now filled with icy glints. "Shut up! I've never seen anyone as shameless as you! You're so annoying!" As she spoke, she pulled the scroll into her bosom with her slender fingers, protecting it even more tightly, as if Baoyu were the rat that had stolen oil.

Baoyu was so embarrassed and ashamed after being scolded that he reached for the jade pendant around his neck. Xiren, seeing this, felt a chill run down her spine; this was unacceptable.

If you grab or throw this thing, your wife will be in trouble.

She quickly stepped forward and pleaded softly with Daiyu: "My dear girl, please have mercy and let the Second Master take a look. He can't be bad no matter what, and it will only make him scratch his head here and spoil the girls' fun."

When Tan Chun saw Bao Yu scratching his head and looking pitiful, she couldn't help but chuckle. Her cute, pursed lips were like a water chestnut just beginning to bloom, charming and lovely.

She nudged Daiyu: "Sister Lin, just let him take a look. Look at his eyes, they're practically glued to the painting and about to pop out. If you don't let him see it soon, he'll probably start acting like a monkey!"

Xiangyun clapped her hands and laughed, "Second brother, you're so impatient! You could go to Tianqiao to sell your tricks!"

Seeing that someone was speaking up for him, Xiren quickly added, "That's right. Since Second Master wants to see it so much, it can't be bad no matter how you look at it. Miss, please grant his request this time."

Annoyed by the chatter of everyone, Daiyu gave Baoyu a disgruntled glare.

Seeing that he was indeed staring longingly, his Adam's apple bobbing, looking exactly like a gluttonous monkey eager for delicacies, I felt both angry and amused.

She reluctantly handed over the scroll, her fingertips holding the very edge as if afraid of getting it stained with something dirty, and said coldly:

"Here you go! Be careful! If you break even the slightest thing, you're not allowed to come within half a step of me in handcuffs!"

Baoyu held it in his hands as if it were a precious treasure, carefully unfolding it as if it were a Buddha relic.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a portrait of Lin Ruhai! It was absolutely exquisite! On the silk, Lin Ruhai was depicted as a refined and scholarly man, with a scholarly air and a touch of melancholy between his brows, as if he could step out of the painting at any moment and stroke his beard and smile at the viewer, just like the real person in front of him!

"Oh my!" Baoyu exclaimed in surprise, his voice trembling. "This...this painting is divine! Which master painter has such extraordinary skill, capable of stealing the heavens and earth with their brushstrokes? It has even captured my uncle's soul!"

Upon hearing his exclamation, the beautiful women immediately showed expressions of envy and longing, their eyes glistening with tears.

Tan Chun spoke first: "Who else could it be? It's that god-like official who wrote a poem and painted a portrait for Sister Xue in Qinghe County some time ago!" Her tone was tinged with envy.

Xiren quickly chimed in, "Indeed! Oh my, this gentleman's handiwork is truly masterful! If we were lucky enough to have him paint a portrait of us, to capture our youthful appearance so vividly, how wonderful that would be..."

As she spoke, she subconsciously touched her smooth, pink cheeks.

Xiangyun, quick-witted and outspoken, clapped her hands and said, "Good! Good! If he can really draw, I'll definitely make him draw me a heroic figure on horseback! Tomorrow I'll dress up as a boy and go to him to beg him!" This drew a burst of laughter from everyone.

Musk Moon chimed in softly, "That's right, that painting, it must have been embroidered by the Weaver Girl in heaven, right? I never imagined that Master Ximen was so skilled in both poetry and painting."

The phrase "possessing both poetry and painting skills" gently stung Lin Daiyu.

"That's it! Xue Baochai! Didn't she get two poems from that high-ranking official? She's been showing off like she got a phoenix egg all day long, her words brimming with pride..."

A thought, like a bubble, popped up from the bottom of my heart with a "glug," carrying a hint of sourness, a hint of sweetness, and a spirit of defiance.

Two faint blushes rose on Lin Daiyu's face, like two specks of rouge blooming on snow, or like dewdrops on a lotus flower. She lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, concealing the thoughts swirling in her eyes: 'In a few days, I will be sending my father back to his post in the south… Once there, I will inevitably stay at Madam Lin's place in Qinghe County for a few days. Since that high-ranking official is a guest of honor at the Lin family, I will surely meet him…'

The more Daiyu thought about it, the more brilliant the idea seemed. A vivid glow rose on her pale face because of this secret expectation.

She thought to herself, 'When the time comes, I'll plead with him softly, or have my father, as an elder, ask him to do the same. With the Lin family's influence, it shouldn't be difficult to get him to paint a picture. Humph, what are Xue Baochai's two poems? Just casual pleasantries! They weren't even written for her.'

"But if I get this painting, it will be a much more important one, one I'll put more effort into! It depicts me, how can that vulgar thing compare? When I bring it back to this mansion... humph!"

She could almost see herself holding that exquisite, priceless portrait, slowly unfolding it before Xue Baochai, Tan Chun, Xiang Yun, Xi Ren, Ping Er, and many other beautiful women. In the painting, she was elegant and unparalleled, and the painting skills were superb, drawing gasps of admiration and envy from everyone, their eyes practically popping out of their sockets.

Especially the possible look in Xue Baochai's eyes, where she might try to remain calm but couldn't hide her disappointment, and her slightly frozen smile... Just thinking about Xue Baochai's stifled appearance made Daiyu feel a surge of pleasure and relief, more comforting than eating ten bowls of rock sugar bird's nest soup.

'Let you taste the bitterness of envy and resentment!' Daiyu spat inwardly, but the sorrow she felt for her father's passing was somewhat diluted by the impending "victory."

Jia Baoyu was holding the painting as if it were a rare treasure, marveling at it and praising it as divine.

Suddenly, Tan Chun and Xi Ren were talking back and forth, pointing out that this amazing painting was actually created by that Master Ximen!

Furthermore, it was mentioned that Xue Baochai had already obtained two poems, which made all the women in the room envious and eager to ask for a painting as well.

Upon hearing the name "Master Ximen," Jia Baoyu felt as if he had been stung by a scorpion, and a surge of anger rushed to his head!

The look of adoration and admiration on his face froze instantly, turning ashen, and his cheeks bulged out, as if he had stuffed two sour plums into his mouth.

He slammed the scroll up haphazardly with a "snap," not caring about being careful or not, and threw it onto the small table next to him as if the scroll was too hot to handle or had been tainted with bad luck.

He snorted heavily through his nostrils, his lips curled into a wide, repulsive grin, his voice filled with sour jealousy and disdain, as he yelled at the women:

"Bah! I thought he was some kind of extraordinary deity! Turns out it's just that frivolous Ximen the tyrant again! His scribblings are only good for fooling the common folk, let alone calling him a 'divine being'! He's just a street urchin who relies on a few stinking coins and some unorthodox tricks! He only knows how to draw some seductive and alluring things to bewitch those shallow women!"

"I think he painted demons, not humans! My uncle is such a noble person, yet under his brush, he's tainted with the stench of money and cosmetics! What a waste of this fine silk! Take it away, take it away, don't offend my eyes!"

Baoyu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured into a pot of boiling oil—it exploded!
Lin Daiyu was immersed in her wonderful fantasy, having a sweet dream, when she was suddenly doused with a barrage of sarcastic and offensive words from Baoyu, who belittled Ximen Qing and his painting as worthless and even used foul language.
This isn't just belittling a painting; it's clearly insulting a monk, deliberately slapping Lin Daiyu in the face and making things difficult for her! It tramples and crushes her secret hopes and pride underfoot!

Daiyu's cheeks, which had been slightly flushed from her fantasies, suddenly lost all color, turning as pale as paper. Then, due to extreme anger and humiliation, two unusual flushes rose up, even staining her delicate white earlobes.

Those dewy eyes, where was there now even a trace of sorrow? The cold stars, sharp as ice, pierced straight towards Baoyu.

She stood up abruptly, her slender body trembling with anger, pointing at Baoyu with a cold, sharp voice, filled with utter sarcasm:
"What arrogance! I wonder when you became an expert in appreciating paintings? You dare to insult people here? Master Ximen's paintings are a masterpiece of nature, even the Emperor has praised them and bestowed upon him the title of Scholar."

"In your mouth, it's become 'graffiti'? Truly, 'you can't talk about ice with a summer insect'! You insult the officials like this, aren't you afraid of bringing great disaster upon yourself! You yourself have no ink in your belly, you need someone else to write your poem, yet you have the nerve to act like an expert here, commenting on the world's best painters?"

"Bah! They can't even come up with a proper couplet, yet they have the leisure to pontificate and criticize famous writers? How ridiculous!"

She paused, her cold gaze sweeping over Baoyu's flushed face, a faint, chilling smile curving her lips, yet the sarcasm was palpable: "You think other people's paintings are tainted with the 'smell of money and cosmetics'?"

"I find it strange that you spend your days in this luxurious world, surrounded by gold, jade, cosmetics, and powder. Every part of you is tainted with 'vulgarity and extravagance'?"

"You yourself are a 'wealthy idler in the mundane world,' yet you complain about the 'vulgarity' in other people's paintings? I think it's not that the paintings have polluted your eyes, but that your 'wealthy eyes' have long been clouded by vulgarity, and you can no longer distinguish what is truly 'refined and noble'! Save your breath, don't 'show off your skills before Lu Ban' here, you'll only make yourself a laughing stock!"

This barrage of insults was swift and vicious, each word piercing to the heart, leaving Jia Baoyu speechless, his face alternating between red, white, and green, looking just like someone who had run a dye shop.

He stammered "you...you..." for a long time, unable to utter a complete sentence. He felt dizzy and disoriented. Every word Daiyu spoke was like a knife, stabbing him hard into his most sensitive and painful heart.

She reached out to take the jade pendant from her neck again. When the other sisters saw this, they were terrified and knew that something was wrong. They quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

Xiren was so anxious that tears were about to fall. She grabbed Daiyu's sleeve and pleaded in a tearful voice, "My dear girl! Please calm down! Second Master... he must have drunk too much and is talking nonsense!"

"You're a magnanimous person, don't stoop to his level! Sit down, it's not worth getting upset!"

She quickly nudged Baoyu, "My lord! You must apologize to Miss Lin! Look how upset you've made her!"

(End of this chapter)