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

Chapter 219 Li Ping'er Pleads for Help, Gongsun Sheng Devises a Plan

Although Wu Daoguan's slap was not forceful, it caught Gongsun Sheng off guard. His head was knocked to the side, and the pride that had risen on his face shattered instantly, replaced by a surge of anger!

"Uncle-Master! You—!" He turned around and said to Wu Daoguan in a deep voice.

When Wu Daoguan slapped him, his heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "I was too quick." He felt a little regretful, but when he saw the kid glaring at him angrily, he became even angrier.

He thought to himself: Even if you are some damned number one young Taoist, you are nothing but a common Taoist with no rank, no title, and no merit!

The man before us is none other than Ximen, a fifth-rank official in charge of life and death, who also holds the prestigious title of scholar!

Who do you think you are? How dare you put on airs, give him attitude, and act tough in front of him?

Whether your junior apprentice can find the thief or not is none of my business! If you catch him, the credit is yours, and the half tael of silver from the Imperial Preceptor won't even end up in the donation box of the Jade Emperor Temple in Qinghe County!

But if you offend this benefactor, my grand Taoist ritual and the future of my Jade Emperor Temple will all be ruined in your hands!

To put it bluntly, if you anger this Mr. Ximen, a document will be issued to revoke your ordination certificate, and you, the "number one Taoist priest," will have to obediently live as an "unregistered and unruly Taoist priest" in Qinghe County—unable to move an inch!
You can forget about getting into my Jade Emperor Temple!
Wu Daoguan spoke in a deep voice, barely audible to Gongsun Sheng: "Gongsun Sheng—!!! Do you really not know how long the plaque of Longhu Mountain is, or how many feet tall the flagpole in front of the gate is?"

Gongsun Sheng was stunned by this nonsensical and sarcastic question.

But in that instant, several old stories that had caused the entire Longhu Mountain to lose face and were so embarrassing to even mention flashed into his mind like a revolving lantern!

How magnificent was Longhu Mountain back then?
The incense is burning brightly, and auspicious purple clouds are coming from the east!
However, a newly appointed local seventh-rank official, a stubborn and nitpicky man, was determined to cause trouble and insisted on confronting Longhu Mountain.

Holding a measuring rod, he stubbornly insisted on the word "usurpation," pointing at the plaque of the main hall of Longhu Mountain and scolding, "Your plaque is over five feet long and the characters are eight inches in size. This is the standard for the main hall of the prefectural government. How dare you outsiders usurp it!"

Then he measured the banner pole: "Its dimensions exceed the prescribed length of three zhang (approximately 10 meters), which is a great disrespect!"

As a result, everyone on Longhu Mountain was in a complete mess!
But this petty official was fearless and wouldn't do anything no matter who pressured him!

In the end, things were chaotic at Longhu Mountain. All the plaques in the main halls were removed, and the dimensions were remeasured before it was barely acceptable!
Even that towering banner pole had to be sawed off! Only then could they barely shut that petty official up!

Wu Daoguan's metaphor of "plaques and banners" is a naked warning—in the face of real power, you are nothing more than something that can be "tailor-made" or even "uprooted" in the blink of an eye!
Gongsun Sheng thought of this in a flash, and then remembered that he had almost lost his life after being beaten by a group of hooligans as soon as he left the mountain. He took a deep breath and put away his arrogant expression.

Seeing that his young nephew had finally shed his prickly arrogance, Wu Daoguan felt a weight lift from his heart. He quickly put on an extremely obsequious smile and bowed deeply to Ximen Qing.
"Master Ximen! Please don't take offense! My nephew was just practicing the 'turtle breathing and qi cultivation' technique, and his mind wandered for a moment, thus neglecting your honor!"

"I'm not exaggerating, but his ability to 'observe form and aura' is truly a direct inheritance from my Taoist school! He's really—" He shook his head, drawing out the words:

"Examine the overall structure of one's life to determine its prosperity or decline! Observe one's complexion to ascertain the fortunes of each year! It's incredibly accurate!"

Gongsun Sheng, having learned his lesson, slid down the ladder his martial uncle had set up, suppressing his awkwardness, and bowed to the high official and the group of women, saying:

"May the Heavenly Venerable bestow boundless blessings. This humble Taoist offers his unworthy teachings. May I ask which esteemed guest in your household would be so kind as to bestow his guidance and allow me to pay homage to your venerable countenance?"

Wu Yueniang believed in this the most and was already itching to try it. Upon hearing this, she stepped forward with a smile and said, "Please trouble you, Immortal Master, to take a look at me first."

Gongsun Sheng roused himself, concentrated his energy, and carefully examined Yue Niang's face. After a moment, he said loudly:

"Madam's appearance is truly that of someone of immeasurable nobility!"

"A face as round as a full moon, a prosperous and flourishing family!"

"Lips like newly blossoming red lotuses, a life of abundance and worry-free living!"

"A woman with a bright and continuous bridge of her nose will surely marry a noble man and give birth to a son!"

"A sound that refreshes the mind and spirit will surely bring good fortune to the husband and prosperity to the household!"

As he spoke, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he shook his head repeatedly at Yue Niang. Yue Niang's heart tightened at his shaking: "Oh dear! Why is the immortal shaking his head? Could it be... that there is some ominous sign on my face?"

Gongsun Sheng looked puzzled, fiddling with his fingers as if trying to dispel an invisible fog: "How strange! The lady's fate was originally extremely auspicious, but alas... alas, the latter half of her life was completely obscured by a misty purple aura, like a thick fog shrouding a river, making it impossible to see clearly anymore!"

Seeing that Yue Niang had received kind words, Li Guijie couldn't resist any longer. She swayed her slender waist and stepped forward, saying in a sweet voice, "Immortal Master! Please take a look at me too, and see if I am blessed?"

Gongsun Sheng looked as instructed, and after only one glance, he blurted out: "A forehead like a cone indicates a lonely and cold nature; a bony bridge of the nose suggests a frivolous character; a gait like a snake with a swaying waist indicates a life of prostitution in one's early years!"

He paused, then added, "Even if I am freed from prostitution today, I will still be a person standing behind a screen!"

Upon hearing this, Jin Lian'er burst out laughing!

After hearing this, Li Guijie, whose almond-shaped eyes were usually alluring, gritted her teeth and glared at Jinlian'er.

Wu Daoguan, who was standing nearby, was terrified and cursed inwardly: "That little bastard! He's such a blind blockhead! How could he expose someone's secrets!"

"A person standing behind a screen implies that even concubines don't know how to say anything nice!"

"Can't even come up with a polite phrase like 'concubine' or 'favorite concubine'? This...this is practically going to get me killed!"

He stole a glance at Ximen Qing and saw that the official's face was neither smiling nor angry. Only then did he swallow the heart that had jumped into his throat.

Pan Jinlian, who had been watching coldly and was already impatient, tugged at Xiangling's sleeve and spat in a low voice, "Pah! What kind of immortal? I think he's just a charlatan who pretends to be a saint! He only knows how to fool people with all sorts of vague and unfounded words!"

With a sway of her slender waist, she gracefully stepped forward, glancing sideways at Gongsun Sheng, her voice crisp and clear:

"Hey! You Taoist priest! Take a look at me too! Tell me if I'm destined for good fortune or misfortune?"

Gongsun Sheng raised his eyes to observe closely, and immediately began to recite: "Thick hair and heavy sideburns, like piled-up black clouds; slanted eyes, flowing with lustful charm! A charming face and arched eyebrows, captivating and alluring; a body that doesn't sway, yet feels light as a feather!"

His gaze swept over Jin Lian'er, his brows furrowed again, and after speaking, he habitually shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Jin Lian'er exclaimed, "Well, well!"

Not a single kind word came out, especially the word "lewd," which really hit her hard!

The shame and anger that Gui Jie felt because her background had been exposed was instantly swept away by a sense of satisfaction that she was "better than the inferior"!

Her captivating eyes darted around, and when she caught sight of Pan Jinlian's pale face, she was overjoyed!

She hastily covered her cherry-like mouth with her delicate, nail-stained hand, feigning surprise and distress, and whispered to Wu Yueniang beside her, her voice just loud enough for Jinlian to hear:
“Auntie! Listen to this… this immortal’s commentary… is truly… every word is precious, every sentence makes perfect sense!” She dragged out the word “makes perfect sense” for a long, drawn-out time, full of schadenfreude.

Jinlian had no time to pay her any attention; her face instantly turned fierce, her eyebrows raised in anger, and she pointed at Gongsun Sheng's nose, launching into a tirade:

"You hairless, wild Taoist priest! If you don't have the ability, don't come to the Ximen residence to spread rumors and swindle people. You foul-mouthed filthy scoundrel! You're the lecher! Your whole family is lecherous! Your ancestors were lecherous!"

Gongsun Sheng had never seen such a fierce and aggressive display before. He was so shocked by the scolding that he stood there dumbfounded!

The official, sitting at the head of the table, found it amusing and chuckled. He slowly said, "Alright, Jinlian'er, since you want to see this, you should be more tolerant. How can you point your finger at a fortune teller and start cursing?"

He turned to Gongsun Sheng, a playful glint in his eyes, "However, Master Gongsun, your physiognomy skills seem to... leave a loose end for each lady? Perhaps you've left a few words unsaid?"

Gongsun Sheng took a deep breath, suppressing the shame and anger of being insulted by Jinlian, and bowed deeply to the official, saying with a wry smile:
"Lord Ximen, your insight is truly remarkable! I dare not conceal anything. It is not that I am lacking in skill, but rather... it is that the faces of these ladies in the manor are all enveloped by a dense, swirling purple aura, like a canopy covering them!"

"This purple aura is exceptionally domineering, completely obscuring the fate of all of you nobles for the rest of your lives. Even if I strain my eyes to the limit, I cannot glimpse a single secret of heaven!"

As he spoke, a thought suddenly struck him. His gaze swept over Ximen Qing, and he was startled to realize that the purple aura on the faces of the women all seemed to originate from this high-ranking official!
He had never heard of such a situation in all his years of cultivation! He could only suppress his shock and smile obsequiously at Ximen Qing, saying, "My lord is blessed by Heaven, with boundless good fortune, and even your wife is obscured by the heavens. This is... this is an aura of extraordinary nobility! My Taoist power is too weak to see through it!"

Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing smiled noncommittally, then looked at Xiangling, who was standing quietly in the corner: "Xiangling, would you like the Taoist priest to take a look as well?"

Xiangling hurriedly waved her hand, lowered her eyes and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Master is joking. I am already very fortunate to have your grace and a peaceful meal in the manor. I dare not trouble you any further, Daoist. There is nothing to see here."

Pan Jinlian, still pouting angrily, tugged at Ximen Qing's sleeve and wouldn't let it go: "Master! Don't believe this charlatan's nonsense! What purple aura? I think he's just making it up to scare people because he's not very skilled! In my opinion, he should be tied up and sent to the magistrate's office, and given fifty lashes as a warning! Let's see if he dares to spout nonsense again!"

The official didn't care at all. He slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and raised his eyelids: "Since you've shown them most of it, why don't you take a look at my face too? What's the deal with this 'purple aura'?"

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Sheng had no choice but to steel himself and stare intently at Ximen Qing's face. What he saw there was enough to send a chill down his spine, making him nearly lose his mind!
He said, "Please take two more steps, Master Ximen!" Wu Daoguan was uneasy, knowing that this was the "walking physiognomy" technique in Taoism, and he was afraid that his nephew would say something bad again!

Gongsun Sheng then said:
"A purplish-red radiance on the forehead indicates immense wealth and nobility, beyond measure! Throughout life, one will acquire much wealth from wives and concubines, and frequently wear official hats and python robes!"

"A head like a treasure basin, a neck like a blessed person! A strong and vigorous body, the features of a dragon and tiger, clearly the root of a hero of the martial world!"

"A full forehead like an overturned bowl indicates a lifetime of abundant wealth and prosperity! A square jaw like a serving dish signifies a life of glory and honor in old age!"

This face is truly the best of the best, signifying great wealth, honor, and longevity!
Gongsun Sheng had cultivated Taoism for many years and seen countless people, but he rarely saw such a noble appearance with "five mountains paying homage" and "three divisions in perfect balance".

But alas! Right behind this magnificent and noble aura, there was also a dense, suffocating purple aura!
This purple aura was even more domineering and viscous than the one that enveloped the faces of the ladies. It was like boiling purple magma or a coiled evil dragon, completely obscuring Ximen Qing's fate for the rest of his life and even the very essence of his destiny, making it impossible to glimpse even the slightest bit of heavenly secrets!

What alarmed Gongsun Sheng even more was that he had vaguely sensed that the purple aura on the faces of the ladies had a source.

Upon closer inspection, the domineering purple aura that clung to Wu Yueniang, Li Guijie, Pan Jinlian, and even Xiangling's faces all originated from the same source, flowing like rivers into the sea, into the churning purple sea on Ximen Qing's body!

It was as if he alone was the source of this overwhelming purple aura, and his very existence distorted the fate of everyone around him!
"This...this..." Gongsun Sheng felt his mouth go dry, his scalp tingle, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt! He had never seen such a strange sight before, let alone heard of it!
Such a record cannot be found in Taoist classics and secrets!
His heart was filled with turmoil, but he dared not show it on his face.

He saw that Ximen Da Guanren's unfathomable, scrutinizing eyes were still staring at him.

Gongsun Sheng's voice trembled as he said, "My lord, the purple aura surrounding your face is not a concealment, but a secret of heaven that cannot be easily revealed! It is probably the protection of the heavens for such a noble person! The purple aura on the faces of the ladies in your household is also imbued with your boundless noble fortune, bringing blessings to the whole family!"

"My cultivation is shallow and my magical power is weak. It is already a stroke of luck that I have been able to glimpse even the tip of your iceberg. How dare I presume to speculate on the secrets of heaven? You are too kind to me!"

Jin Lian'er hadn't finished venting her anger. She gritted her teeth and squeezed out a few low curses through her nostrils: "You damned thieving Taoist priest! You're spouting nonsense again. Your tongue will rot sooner or later!"

The official stood up and said, "Since you've troubled us to read our fortunes, tell me how you want me to help you."

Seeing that the official had agreed so readily, Gongsun Sheng felt somewhat relieved and quickly explained his request in detail, his words carrying a hint of urgency and calculation:
"Lord Ximen, please forgive me! After much thought, I believe that since those thieves dared to impersonate a merchant caravan and act so openly, they must be henchmen kept by a prominent and well-connected family in Qinghe County! Ordinary small families would never have such courage, nor could they afford to support so many desperados!"

He paused, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and lowered his voice, saying, "Therefore, I dare to ask, using the authority of the Provincial Judicial Commissioner, to do two things:

"Firstly, I request that you, sir, review all the registers of merchant caravans that have entered and left Qinghe County in recent days! Find out the details of every single caravan that entered and left the town in those days, including the names of the caravans, the number of people, the vehicles and goods, and the places they stayed!"

"Secondly, now that we have this list, I would like to ask you to have someone investigate which wealthy families from Qinghe County are supporting these caravans!"

Having said this, Gongsun Sheng regained his confident demeanor and cupped his hands, saying, "With these two items, I can 'visit' each and every household! No matter what kind of grand mansion or noble family it is, I have my own methods to drag those thieves out of their rat hole! I hope you will grant my request, sir!"

Upon hearing this, the official laughed heartily. He took two steps, stopped in front of Gongsun Sheng, and said with a playful smile, "It's a small matter!"

He turned to Xiangling, who was standing to the side, and instructed her, "Go to the study inside and, using my nameplate and writing brush, write a document for the judicial commissioner!"

He paused, his eyes flashing even brighter, his voice deepening:
"Write: 'The Chief of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, West Gate, is investigating a major case. Immediately review the registers of all merchant caravans that have entered and exited Qinghe County in the past ten days, and record in detail their businesses, the names of those in charge, the number of people, their vehicles, goods, and their lodgings!'"

"Start another order: 'Instruct the clerk to quickly find the names of the major households in this county to which the aforementioned caravans belong, and note the location of their residences in detail, draw the route, and compile a list and submit it immediately!' After writing it, stamp it with my vermilion seal!!"

Xiangling responded with a sweet "Yes, Master," her voice still charming, but she dared not be negligent. With small, quick steps and her skirt swaying slightly, she hurried to the study at the back.

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Sheng felt a great weight lifted from his heart. This was a hundred times better than him going door to door to inquire!
Just as he was about to bow and express his gratitude, he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside!

The servant boy, Ping An, shrank his neck and scurried in, reporting, "Master! The lady from next door... the Hua family next door is requesting an audience outside the ceremonial gate!"

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Ximen Qing raised an eyebrow, his expression instantly freezing. Thinking of the woman who had spied on him while he practiced martial arts and often waited for him late at night, he thought to himself: Could it be that 'his lustful heart couldn't be contained and came to him in broad daylight'? What time is it? In broad daylight, how dare she swagger into my mansion like this?
As soon as the brocade curtain of the ceremonial gate was lifted, a cold wind carrying the fragrance of winter plum blossoms rushed in. Immediately afterwards, Li Ping'er, like a soft and fragrant jade wrapped in plain satin, rolled into the warm and sultry hall!

The silver fox-embellished plain satin crane cloak she wore clung tightly to her body as the cold wind blew, accentuating her bulging chest. Her figure was truly captivatingly voluptuous!

Especially the neck exposed through the gaps in the crane cloak, looking like smooth white porcelain, seemed to have absorbed the moonlight in the gloom of winter!

Then look at that face. The oval face was flushed with two mounds of red like drunken begonias when the cold air hit it, making the skin underneath look even whiter and more delicate, just like a freshly steamed cream cheese drizzled with honey!
The tip of her nose was frozen red, like a ripe cherry bead. Her breath was soft and rapid, and the little bead trembled slightly, making one want to warm it up!

Those once bright, affectionate eyes were now filled with panic, their gazes brimming with emotion.

Her once glossy black hair was now loose and disheveled, with a few strands of sweaty black hair clinging tightly to her smooth, full forehead and temples, and winding down her pink and round earlobes all the way to the depths of her snow-white and plump neck!
Those lips, originally a very pale cherry pink, had lost all color and instead appeared somewhat pale and fragile, as if they had been ravaged. They were slightly parted, revealing a bit of wet red tongue, which was truly captivating and made people want to love them!
As soon as she entered the room, Li Ping'er's feet, encased in gold-trimmed sheepskin boots, went limp—the pointed boots could no longer support her plump figure, and with a "thump," she knelt straight down on the cold gold brick floor, her buttocks spilling out onto her calves, almost as large as Wang Xifeng's.

"My lord! Help me, my lord!" Her voice was choked with sobs, like ice beads shattering on a jade plate, clear yet broken. "Please have mercy and save your sworn brother, Hua Zixu! He... he was just taken away by the constables of the prison!"

The official's face stiffened.

He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "The prison authorities arrested someone? What for? Although Hua Laosi is usually a bit of a scoundrel, why would they need to go to the prison authorities to arrest him?"

Li Ping'er raised her pointed little face, full of fear: "I...I heard those constables scolding me, saying that the silver ingots exchanged at a gambling den in the city had their bottom mark worn away!"

"The capable people at the Provincial Judicial Office examined it carefully and suspected... suspected that the purity and quality of the silver resembled the official silver that had been lost from the birthday tribute sent by Liang Zhongshu of Daming Prefecture to Grand Tutor Cai!"

As she spoke, her whole body trembled even more violently, and the last trace of color drained from her porcelain-white face, making her look like a figure sculpted from snow.

"These officers followed the trail of the money... and actually... they traced it back to this murderer! The officers said they had already questioned the gambling dens and brothels; this idiot has been spending money like water lately!"

"It's that new prostitute again, spending money like water, getting blinded by losses at the gambling den, throwing away hundreds and thousands... Such extravagance, with money of dubious origin, and to make matters worse, tainted by the bad luck of being 'ground away'..."

"The provincial judicial commissioner has determined that he... he is deeply involved! My lord! You are his sworn brother and the provincial judicial commissioner; only you can save his life!"

Li Ping'er's mind was in turmoil.

Although she and Hua Zixu were a fake couple.

But the two also found comfort in each other.

One relied on a man's name to shield her from the wind and rain, while the other relied on her hard-earned money to gamble and whore and live a carefree life.

Li Ping'er often scolded him, but when the government seized this "shield" like wolves and tigers, she felt as if the sky had fallen and the earth had collapsed!
The mountain of gold and silver left behind by Eunuch Hua was coveted by Hua Zixu's wolfish clan brothers. If she were to lose her man to support the family, she, a woman who had lost her support, along with her body and all her savings, would probably be torn apart by those hungry wolves in the blink of an eye, leaving not even bone fragments!
Of course, there's always someone who can shelter you from the wind and rain!

Thinking of this, Li Ping'er suddenly raised her tearful eyes, her panic still lingering, but a sudden surge of desperate desire ignited within them!

Her sticky, wet gaze fell upon the official.

But before that captivating glance could even reach Ximen Qing's face, Pan Jinlian, who was standing beside him, could sense it even with her eyes closed!
Jin Lian'er's usually alluring eyes flashed with a cold light in an instant. She twisted her slender waist, her face frosty, and the jealousy and warning in her eyes were so intense they could burn holes in Li Ping'er's delicate skin! She forcefully cut off Li Ping'er's gaze!
"Get up," the official said in a deep voice. "We are all neighbors. What kind of behavior is it to kneel like this? Don't worry, you can put your mind at ease."

"Hua Laosi is my sworn brother, someone I've kowtowed to, someone I've burned incense with in the same incense burner! His affairs are my affairs."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'er's shoulders trembled slightly, and she raised a look of alarm.

The official's gaze swept over her face, and he continued slowly, "It's already late today, and those executioners in the yamen have long since finished their duties. There's no use in you being anxious. Tomorrow, I'll get up before dawn and make my first trip to the provincial prison."

"As long as he really didn't do this outrageous and lawless thing, I will definitely get him out of here unharmed! Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping'er's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. The worry on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a smile full of joy and charm.

"With your words, my lord, I feel much more at ease!" She continued reading without getting up, "I... I kowtow to you on behalf of that heartless bastard!" Her voice was sweet and soft, with a trembling tone that sounded like she had just survived a calamity.

After kowtowing, he supported himself on his knees, slowly rose, swaying his hips, and took his leave with profuse thanks.

Before leaving, she looked at the man with lingering reluctance. Although she had a thousand and one things to say, she couldn't bring herself to say them because his wife was present.

The fragrant breeze wafted over the threshold and lingered there.

Gongsun Sheng, who had been standing in the shadows the whole time, remained motionless, like a clay or wooden sculpture, and did not utter a single word.

He lowered his eyelids, as if in a meditative state.

However, his heart was in turmoil, as if boiling water had suddenly been struck by thunder:
"I've searched high and low without finding it, but it's right here without any effort! I've succeeded!"

(End of this chapter)