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

Chapter 216 The High-Ranking Official Chooses a Concubine, Xue Pan Schemes Against Baoyu

Tan Chun also pretended to have a stern face and slammed her hand on the table: "Second brother! You're becoming more and more outrageous! How can you take away treasures at the drop of a hat? No matter what, this painting has Uncle's face on it, and yet you say such hurtful things to upset her! Hurry up and admit your mistake!"

As she spoke, she winked at Xiangyun.

Xiangyun panicked as well. She was a straightforward person, and at this moment she didn't care about anything. She stepped forward and pushed Baoyu, saying without thinking, "Second brother! You're really asking for trouble! Hurry up and kowtow to Sister Lin to apologize! You...you're just a dog who can't say anything nice!"

For a time, there was a cacophony of voices, with some trying to mediate and others blaming each other, creating complete chaos.

Surrounded by the crowd, Baoyu heard Daiyu's angry rebukes and his sisters' reproaches. His face burned with embarrassment, and he wished he could die immediately.

Just as things were getting out of hand and the commotion was reaching its peak, suddenly the little maid's voice, filled with extreme panic, shrieked:

"Quickly! Master... Master has sent someone to summon you! Go immediately! Master's expression... is not good! You'd better hurry!"

That cry of "Master!" was like a thunderclap, and also like a lifesaver!

Upon hearing the word "Master," Jia Baoyu felt as if a death row inmate had been granted a pardon; his initial shame and grievances were instantly overwhelmed by immense fear.

He no longer cared about saving face, the painting, or the great master Ximen. He abruptly pushed aside Xiren and Xiangyun who were blocking his way, as if being chased by a ghost, and mumbled incoherently, "Coming...coming! Coming right now!"

They scrambled and stumbled, not daring to look back, and rushed out in a panic.

The women were stunned when they saw him fleeing in such a panicked manner. The room fell silent instantly, with only Daiyu's rapid breathing and her slender figure twisting her handkerchief, trembling with anger.

No sooner had Baoyu stepped out the door than Daiyu picked up the scroll he had smashed and examined it carefully, as if afraid it might be broken. To comfort Daiyu, the others started chatting.

Tan Chun said, "Why isn't Qingwen here today?"

Xiangyun stamped the mud and snow off her feet, her brows furrowing slightly: "I just came from her place! She's lying on the kang now, groaning and moaning, her face as red as paper, shivering even under two thick quilts, the poor thing."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu raised her slender eyebrows slightly: "Oh? You were perfectly fine just a couple of days ago? How did you become so sickly?"

Xiangyun sat down next to the incense burner, stretched out her hands, which were slightly red from the cold, to warm them by the fire, sighed, and lowered her voice: "Sigh! It's all because of that case last time! She was punished by being made to kneel upright in the snow for almost half an hour! What kind of weather was that? There was a thick layer of snow on the ground, and the north wind was so strong it felt like knives were cutting her face!"

“What good are those thin clothes she’s wearing? The cold just seeped into her bones. She complained of a headache the night she got back, and it’s getting worse now. The doctor said it’s ‘wind-cold entering the bones,’ and she needs to rest for a while and can’t move around easily. I went to see her just now, and the room was filled with the smell of medicine, making me dizzy. She barely had the strength to open her eyes.”

Upon hearing this, Xiren's gentle smile froze slightly: "Madam... is just too angry about something as dishonest as stealing." Her voice was light and lacked weight.

Baoyu was flustered and walked with lightning speed, almost touching the ground, across the hall. As soon as he was out of that awkward situation, a sense of unease surfaced in his mind: Why was Master in such a hurry today? I haven't heard of any terrible disaster happening in the house…

Just as I was still wondering about it, I heard a loud, rough laugh coming from the corner of the wall. The laugh was loud and rascal, full of the swagger of a street ruffian, and it made my eardrums buzz.

Baoyu was startled and turned around to see Xue Pan clapping his hands and laughing. Clad in fine silks and satins, his clumsy frame and protruding belly made him look like a nouveau riche. He grinned widely and said:

"Hahaha! Brother Bao! You run faster than a rabbit! No wonder your uncle called you, how did you get out so fast?"

Beiming, who was standing next to him, burst out laughing and hurriedly said, "Don't blame me, sir." As she spoke, she knelt down, but her face still showed a smile she couldn't suppress.

Baoyu was stunned for a long time before the string in his mind suddenly snapped open—this was not the master calling him.
Xue Pan had clearly tricked him into coming out! A surge of shame and anger at being played rushed to his head, and his face flushed red again.

Seeing that he understood, Xue Pan hurriedly bowed and apologized, but his bowing posture had a slick and unconvincing quality, and his waist was not bent with much sincerity.
"Good brother! Please forgive me! I was really afraid I wouldn't be able to get the truth out of you, so I resorted to this tactic, having that little rascal Beiming make up a lie to get you out! Don't be angry!"

Then, with a shameless grin, he pleaded, "Don't make things difficult for the kid. I forced him to go. If he doesn't listen, I'll slap him across the face!"

Baoyu was at a loss, knowing he couldn't reason with this idiot, so he could only ask with a smile, but the smile carried a hint of helplessness and disdain:
"You can fool me if you want, but how dare you bring up my father? Is it acceptable to say 'the master summoned you'? I'll go tell my aunt right now and let her judge this matter. Is that alright?"

Upon hearing that someone was going to complain, Xue Pan immediately panicked and rushed forward, his foul stench of wine and meat hitting Bao Yu's face.
"Oh, my good brother! My dear brother! You mustn't do this! I deserve to die! I deserve to die!"

He pretended to slap himself, raising his hand high, but when it came down, it only lightly touched his face. He hurriedly said, "Good brother, I was so eager for you to come out that I forgot to say that. Damn it! Damn it!"

His eyes darted around, and he leaned closer with a lecherous grin, lowering his voice: "Hey! What's the big deal? I lied to you today, so you can lie to me another day! Either way, I won't lose out! Tomorrow, just make up some excuse and say my dad's calling me, and I'll run faster than you!"

Baoyu was furious at his argument that he was never at a disadvantage, and spat out, "Hey, he's even more despicable! How can you joke around with men like that!"

Seeing that the commotion had temporarily subsided, Xue Pan immediately put on a smug expression again, affectionately putting his arm around Bao Yu's shoulder, the force almost causing Bao Yu to stumble.
"Brother Bao! Calm down! If it weren't for something truly extraordinary, I wouldn't dare disturb such a great person as you!"

He spoke with spittle flying, saying, "It's because my birthday is tomorrow, the third day of the first lunar month!"

He paused deliberately, building up the anticipation, before boasting with great excitement: "Guess what? That Cheng Rixing, the big-headed Cheng, from the antique shop! He must have had some incredible luck, managing to acquire four treasures!"

He counted on his carrot-thick fingers, spittle flying everywhere: "First thing, such a thick and long fresh lotus root! Crisp and juicy! Second, such a big watermelon with a thin, crisp green rind and sweet, sandy flesh! Third, such a long, fresh sturgeon! Lively and jumping, its scales shimmering with silver light! Fourth, look, such a big Siamese pig, smoked with juniper sachets, a tribute from Siam! Tsk! The skin is golden and glossy after roasting, and the aroma is so enticing it could be smelled from miles away! Even the beggar next door would be banging his head against the wall!"

He swallowed hard, his small eyes gleaming: "Tell me! Aren't these four gifts incredibly rare? The fish and the pig are expensive, but you can get them by throwing money at them. But these lotus roots and melons! My God! I don't know what kind of auspicious smoke rose from his ancestral graves, or which immortal cave he stole these seeds from! How the hell did he even grow them!"

Xue Pan patted his belly smugly: "I've received such a tremendous benefit, how could I dare to keep it all to myself? I've even specially saved some of the best for you, Brother Bao!"

He slapped Baoyu on the back and winked, "That's why I specially invited you here! Coincidentally, I'll introduce someone who's a perfect match for you, and you'll thank me... Hehe! Let's close the door, first enjoy this rare delicacy, then listen to those enchanting songs, feast on rich wine and meat, and have a day of singing and dancing—a truly blissful day! Isn't that a hundred times better than suffering that humiliation in a brothel? Brother Bao, what do you say?"

Although Baoyu was very unwilling, seeing that they had already come out, he nodded and followed.

Meanwhile, inside the Ximen residence...

Ximen Qing gave Jinlian a series of powerful and comforting words, coaxing her until she lay sprawled on the pillow, wrapped in a brocade quilt, with only her fluffy hair showing.

She whimpered, her throat feeling as if it were filled with honey and peach gum: "My dear father... how can I face anyone looking like this? My cheeks are swollen, and my eyes are like peaches... won't I become the subject of gossips and laughter if I go out?"

As she spoke, she feigned two sobs, but her eyes darted sideways at the official.

Seeing her acting so coquettishly, the official understood that she was just being coquettish and affected, so he took the opportunity to pinch her smooth buttocks and laughed:

"Alright, since you don't want to move, just rest in this warm pavilion and rejuvenate. Today's feast isn't anything special, so just get by with it. You can stay in your room and tell the kitchen what you want to eat." After saying that, he leaned closer to burn incense for a while, then straightened his clothes and swayed out of the room.

Once in the hall, I mustered my spirits, put on a smile, and greeted everyone in turn.

One wanted to borrow money, another wanted to find a job, but Yue Niang's two brothers, after being scolded, didn't say a word, they just offered a toast.

The official mumbled incoherently and drank quite a bit more wine. The banquet didn't finally end until the second watch of the night.

The next morning, the official was still hungover, his temples throbbing, and he was slumped in a chair in the hall.

Xiangling obediently took a hot towel and applied it to the master's forehead.

Then they saw Lai Bao leading two people, bending over, quietly entering the hall.

One was Mr. Fu, who was in charge of the household accounts. He was wearing a blue cloth jacket and had a somewhat restrained and fearful look on his face.

The other was another old colleague in the shop, who was even more timid and dared not utter a sound.

Lai Bao leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a hint of flattery, "Uncle, as you instructed yesterday, I carefully sifted through the families in the mansion and the shops outside. Among them, these two are the only ones who have unmarried daughters and whose ages are in line with Steward Zhai's wishes. Mr. Fu's family has an only daughter, and Shopkeeper Li's family has a second daughter. They are both quite good-looking."

The official grunted, opened his eyes, and looked at the accountant, Mr. Fu, with a smile, saying, "Mr. Fu, you've been with me for quite some time now, and you've always been diligent and hardworking. Now, a tremendous opportunity has fallen into your lap."

Mr. Fu bowed deeply and said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir."

The official said, "The head steward Zhai in the capital is the head steward of Grand Tutor Cai's mansion. His status and position are such that even high-ranking officials would have to show him respect! Now he wants to add a fertile concubine to his household."

"I think your daughter is the right age and looks. If you send her over, she'll wear fine silks and satins, eat delicacies from land and sea, and have servants at her beck and call. Her life of luxury will be far better than that of an ordinary family's first wife! Wouldn't that be a great opportunity to rise to the top in one step? Are you willing?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Fu's face paled, and his body trembled slightly. He knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice shaking: "Your kindness, sir, is something I could never repay even if I were to be shattered to pieces!" "But... but my wife and I are already fifty years old, and we only have this one daughter, whom we cherish as our own lives. We had hoped... we had hoped to find a decent son-in-law to join us, firstly to inherit our meager family fortune, and secondly to take care of us in our old age, to serve us tea and water, and even in death, to have someone to break a basin and carry our coffin..."

"This...this marriage to the capital, into a grand mansion, I...I really can't bear to leave. I'm also afraid my daughter is not blessed enough to handle such wealth...I beg you, sir, to have mercy and understand my predicament..." As she spoke, her withered fingers clenched the hem of her clothes tightly.

The official smiled and waved his hand, gesturing for him to rise: "Mr. Fu, please don't be flustered. Marrying off a daughter is all about mutual consent. Forced marriages are never sweet. If you're unwilling, am I the kind of person who would force someone or be unreasonable? Forget it!"

Accountant Fu, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir! Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

"Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you." The official waved his hand. "You're one of the older folks in this household. In the next couple of days, a young man will be coming to your accounting office to learn how to keep accounts and use an abacus. Please take good care of him and teach him properly. Also, please check if this lad is quick-witted and reliable in his dealings with others."

Accountant Fu dared not be negligent and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I will do my best and dare not fail the trust of the master!" After saying that, he hunched over and backed out of the hall.

The official turned his gaze to Li Gui, the old man who was shrugging his neck beside him, and put on his smug face again: "Li Gui, what about you? You came to vouch for me earlier, saying that you also have a daughter of marriageable age?"

Li Gui was already quite frightened by this scene, and upon hearing the official say that "marrying off a daughter requires mutual consent," his courage immediately grew. He knelt down with a thud, forcing a fawning smile onto his face, his voice trembling yet unusually loud:

"Replying to your question, sir! I am willing! My ancestors' graves are filled with auspicious smoke, to receive such an honor from you! My second daughter is waiting outside! To be able to serve such a noble person as Steward Zhai in the capital is a blessing accumulated over several lifetimes! My whole family is willing! A hundred times willing!"

Upon hearing this, the official's face broke into a genuine smile: "Oh? Right outside? Good! You're sensible! Quickly call him in, let me see what kind of person he is."

Lai Bao, who was standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly gave a wink to the door.

The hall door creaked open, and everyone felt the light dim as a dark figure blocked the doorway.

Then, the dark figure strode in with a few heavy steps, and the ground seemed to tremble.

When she got closer, the girls in the hall, including Xiangling, Guijie, and Jinlian, turned pale with fright, and even the master was dumbfounded!

The second daughter of Li Gui's family was quite tall, over eight feet, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, as big as a door god!
A large, square face painted with two glaring patches of rouge, thick eyebrows, large, round eyes, a nose like a garlic bulb, and a wide, grinning mouth.

Her hair was haphazardly tied in a bun, with a withered velvet flower stuck in it.

He was wearing an old red cotton-padded jacket, which was tightly wrapped around his body, making his chest bulge and his waist as thick as a millstone.

Those feet were even more frightening, wearing a pair of hard blue cloth shoes, probably a foot or so long!

Without needing any instruction, she walked into the hall, saw the master, and with a gurgling sound like a broken gong, exclaimed, "This humble servant, Li Erjie, kowtows to the master!"

Before he could finish speaking, that towering figure suddenly knelt down with a thud!

The movements were swift, but the force was truly terrifying. The blue brick floor in the hall seemed to vibrate with a "hum," and the teacup on the small table next to it jumped and almost rolled off!
The official felt a strong smell of alcohol mixed with an indescribable odor of sweat rush to his head. Looking at the "Second Sister" kneeling in front of him, her waist was a size larger than his own, and her voice was three times louder than Lai Bao's!
This...this isn't being sent to Steward Zhai as a concubine! This is clearly being sent to guard someone's house or even be a rough maid who chops wood and tends the fire—she wouldn't even be considered to be taking up much space!
If he sat down like that, wouldn't Steward Zhai be literally killed?!

The official felt his eyelids twitching and his temples throbbing as if they were being stabbed with awls. The scene before him was even more intoxicating than the ten pounds of liquor he had drunk the night before!
His mind involuntarily conjured up the image of Steward Zhai, thin and frail, pampered and privileged—what if, on their wedding night, this Second Sister Li were to crush him with a single blow…

The official shuddered as if he heard a cracking sound of bones breaking!

Too lazy to waste any more words on this idiot, he took a deep breath and waved his hand:
"Hmm... good, good, she's... a filial daughter. Li Gui, take your daughter... home first. Let me think about this some more."

After the father and daughter left.

The smile on the big official's face froze instantly, then turned ashen, and a surge of evil fire shot straight to the top of his head!
He slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to jump up and crash to the ground with a loud "crash!"
He pointed at Lai Bao, who was terrified and pale, his eyes wide open, his temples throbbing, and he forced out the words through clenched teeth:

"You blind bastard!! You...you call this 'well-proportioned'? Did a dog eat your eyes, or are you deliberately making fun of me? Sending this kind of trash to the Zhai family? Do you want to make me lose face enough, to make the nobles in the capital laugh their heads off, and even ruin your father's job?!"

Lai Bao was so terrified by the scolding that he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly.
"Father, please calm down! Father, please calm down! I deserve to die! I was blind! I... I only heard that she was of a suitable age, so I went into the manor first, and I didn't... I didn't have time to take a good look at her..."

He was so frightened that he stammered incoherently. Suddenly, as if grasping at a straw, he hurriedly looked up and cried out, "Father! I deserve to die! I deserve to die! But... but I know someone else! He will surely please you!"

The official, panting heavily, his chest heaving, barely suppressed his anger: "Speak! If you dare to lie again, I'll skin you alive!"

Lai Bao swallowed hard and said quickly, "It's...it's the daughter of my lover Wang Liu'er, named Ai Jie'er! Although...although she's not exactly beautiful, she has a neat appearance, delicate features, and a well-behaved and gentle nature!"

"You know her mother, Wang Liu'er, Father. She's incredibly clever and perceptive, and most importantly, she's incredibly patient. A daughter raised like that will surely know how to read the room and how to serve important people! Sending her to the Zhai family will surely not embarrass you, Father. She might even bring you honor!"

After listening to Lai Bao's description of Wang Liu'er's daughter, the official pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow:
"Hmm...that's true. But..." The official paused, lowering his voice, "After all, her family isn't a family that has been working in our household for many years."

Lai Bao was quick-witted; upon hearing the master's words, he immediately understood the master's concerns.

His eyes darted around, and a fawning smile spread across his face as he leaned closer, his expression one of eager anticipation.

"Father is wise! He has considered everything thoroughly! He has taught me for many years, how could I not have thought of this? I have already planned it out for you!"

He counted on his fingers, one by one: "Her husband, Han Daoguo, is now just an insignificant shop assistant in our family's herbal medicine shop, running errands and doing odd jobs to make a living. If you, Uncle, were to show him a little favor and promote him, give him a job managing the accounts or watching the warehouse, let him get a little bit of profit, wouldn't he be grateful and treat you like a living Buddha?"

"Furthermore, Wang Liu'er has a younger brother named Wang Jing, a boy who is about twelve or thirteen years old. He is currently wandering the streets aimlessly, without any proper livelihood. Please, Uncle, have mercy and take him into the manor. He can work as a servant for Dai'an and Ping'an, running errands and learning manners."

"With a respectable job in your household, and with Dai'an and the others keeping an eye on him and training him, why would he not be completely devoted?"

"As for Wang Liu'er..." Lai Bao revealed a knowing, lewd smile. "Uncle, you know me, I... hehe, I've had some dealings with her for a long time, and I often spend money on her."

"As long as you nod your head, Father, I'll keep her firmly in my grasp from now on, making sure she doesn't dare to go west! The very bones and sinews of her whole family are in your hands, Father! If that Ai-jie enters the Zhai mansion, will she dare to cause trouble? I guarantee she'll behave herself and only think about bringing you honor!"

Listening to Lai Bao's meticulously planned scheme, the official nodded in satisfaction, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Hmm! You dog, you've finally spoken a few human words today! This game of chess is quite well-arranged! With the whole family in your grasp, you don't have to worry about any unexpected events!"

He picked up the hot tea that the servant had brought him again, took a sip, and slowly exhaled a puff of white steam: "Alright! Since your idea today was somewhat effective, I'll spare you this beating! Get up!"

Lai Bao felt as if he had heard a divine voice, and quickly kowtowed again: "Thank you for your grace, Uncle! Thank you for your grace, Uncle!" Only then did he dare to stand up, bowing his back, with his hands hanging down, his face full of flattery as if he had survived a calamity.

The official put down his teacup and solemnly instructed, "However, you must put on a good show in this matter! Go find Wang Liu'er and Han Daoguo, and tell them about the wealthy and promising future of Steward Zhai's household without exaggeration! Make sure they are willing and happy to send their daughter over!"

"Remember, it has to be—mutual consent!" He emphasized these four words, repeatedly instructing, "You absolutely must not show the slightest hint of coercion! Otherwise, if you send someone who is unhappy, and they cry and whine in front of the important person, or put on a sullen face, then you will have done more harm than good, understand?"

"Understood! Understood! Don't worry, Uncle!" Lai Bao thumped his chest loudly, his face full of confidence. "This family is so poor they're practically begging to hang themselves. For their daughter to marry into a branch of the Prime Minister's family is a blessing they've accumulated over several lifetimes! They'll be eternally grateful and overjoyed to send their daughter off!"

"Okay, go ahead! Get it done quickly!" The official waved his hand.

Lai Bao dared not delay and replied, "I'll take care of it right away!" He backed out of the hall, turned around, and sped off towards Wang Liu'er's house in the back alley.

Meanwhile, Han Daoguo was working at Ximen Daguanren's pharmacy, handling odd jobs like sweeping and running errands. He spent his days bowing and scraping, living at the mercy of the shopkeeper and managers.

The shop was quieter today, but he felt inexplicably uneasy. His eyelids twitched a few times, which he attributed to not sleeping well last night. Little did he know that a good show was about to begin at home.

At his home, Wang Liu'er lived a carefree and leisurely life.

It was a cold winter day, and she was too lazy to move. She wore only an old peach-colored jacket with the collar loosely open. Although her face was purplish-red, her neck, which was usually kept out of the sun, was exposed.

She wore a pair of light green silk trousers underneath, with the legs rolled up high above her knees, revealing two sections of white, lotus-root-like calves.

She lay sprawled on the heated kang, a worn-out brocade quilt beneath her, and a brass brazier burning brightly in front of her.

The crackling of the charcoal fire made her face flushed, further highlighting her languid, plump, and alluring charm.

She held a handful of sunflower seeds in her hand, cracking them idly, spitting the shells carelessly onto the edge of the brazier, which emitted a burnt smell.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, they heard the courtyard gate creak open, and a figure sneaked in, then turned around and bolted the door shut.

The person who came was none other than Han Daoguo's own brother, Han Er!
(End of this chapter)