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

Chapter 31 A Joyful Division of the Spoils
"Master! Master, don't scare me!!"

Now, when Madam Yu saw Zhang Da Hu vomit blood and faint, she realized that he had fainted.

Terrified, she cried out "Master!" with tears streaming down her face and quickly sent servants and maids to fetch a doctor.

The mansion was filled with a desolate and miserable atmosphere.

There was laughter and chatter outside the mansion.

Ximen Da Guanren and He Qianhu walked side by side out of the two bright red gates of Zhang Da Hu's mansion.

Below the stone steps outside the gate, two squads of soldiers stood solemnly, their armor gleaming.

A lean soldier quickly led the two men's horses over.

Without orders, they dared not approach and stood at a distance.

Ximen Qing stopped at the steps, his sleeves rustling as he slowly pulled out a stack of still-freshly printed land deeds—a full 1,500 mu of first-class irrigated land in Qinghe County!

He smiled at Commander He and said:

“Lord He, this time we owe our success entirely to your might. These land deeds… should be incorporated into the military garrison to uphold the law of the court. I have already retrieved three thousand catties of honeysuckle herbs, which is more than enough.”

Although his words were eloquent, his fingers were intentionally or unintentionally stroking the edges of the contract, and his eyes were glancing sideways at Commander He's expression.

Upon hearing this, Commander He's eyelids twitched, and he quickly waved his hand, saying:

"What are you saying, Master Ximen!" He took a half step closer, appearing even more intimate than the day before, and lowered his voice: "Master, if it weren't for your brilliant strategy this time, the deficit of 1,800 shi of military rations in my garrison's granary would have cost me my head! It's already a stroke of luck that the deficit has been filled!"

"These lands... are still entrusted to the management of the top tycoon of Qinghe County, so that I can rest easy! Besides, there are established practices for military farms in the garrison. Suddenly adding so many properties will only cause a cacophony of noise from the Censorate."

Seeing that Ximen Da Guanren's eyes were fixed on the land deed in his hand, he understood immediately.

This Commander He is indeed cautious.

It's not that they don't love money; it's clearly that they're afraid of attracting attention when they're successful, and even more afraid of revealing their poor management skills!
He deftly slipped the land deed into his sleeve: "Since that's the case, then... the land will be temporarily managed by my humble abode. Each year, after deducting expenses for seeds, cattle, tools, and labor, the net profit will be 100%—"

The official paused, observing the situation: "Fifty percent will be converted into silver and sent to your residence to supplement military funds; the remainder will serve as compensation for my hard work running errands and drinking tea. What does your opinion, sir?"

Upon hearing that "50% of the military funds will be subsidized," Commander He felt a great weight lifted from his heart!
He had been so worried about the deadly shortage of military rations that he couldn't sleep at night, but today not only was the hole filled, but he also suddenly gained an extra 750 acres of good farmland as a regular source of income!

It served as my salary for several years.

This Mr. Ximen is indeed shrewd!

He suppressed his joy, his Adam's apple bobbing twice, and feigned hesitation as he said:

"This... Your arrangements are certainly appropriate! However..."

He rubbed his hands together and chuckled, "That fifty percent of the silver... must not go through the garrison's public accounts! Just treat it as... the proceeds of my clan's private property, and secretly send it into the inner quarters!"

Ximen Qing unfurled his gold-flecked fan with a "whoosh": "Rest assured, Lord He!"

He Qianhu was overjoyed to see that he had agreed and bowed to thank him.

"Master Ximen is truly a timely help! He has saved me from my urgent crisis! I, He... will forever remember this kindness!"

Master Ximen laughed and said, "You flatter me, sir! Qinghe County is neither small nor large. As the saying goes, if you help me, I will help you!"

Commander He nodded knowingly and said, "I'll host a banquet for you another day, sir," before laughing heartily and leaving with his guards.

Ximen Da Guanren watched the group of fierce-looking guards leave.

Looking back.

Pan Jinlian stood below the steps, dressed in a worn coarse cloth shirt and a light green handkerchief. Although she was a servant, her figure could not hide her graceful and charming demeanor.

She lowered her head and looked like a clay puppet, but her big, watery almond-shaped eyes had already captured Ximen Qing's figure.

His new master exuded an indescribable aura of power and charm.

Even a high-ranking official like Commander He was treated like a chicken or a dog in front of him, with a fawning expression on his face.

Pan Jinlian's heart began to pound like a drum, and a surge of heat rose from her lower abdomen, burning her cheeks and ears.

She stole a glance and met Ximen Qing's ambiguous gaze.

Pan Jinlian panicked and quickly lowered her head. Ximen Qing called out, "Come closer."

Upon hearing the summons, Pan Jinlian dared not delay. She quickly moved her small feet forward, taking small steps, and knelt down about three feet in front of Ximen Qing. She said in a sweet voice, "This servant Jinlian kowtows to my lord."

Her voice was clear and melodious like a nightingale's song, yet it carried a slight tremor, making her sound even more delicate and pitiful.

She spoke respectfully, her head bowed, but her eyes boldly rose from below, staring directly at Ximen Qing.

In those eyes, three parts were feigned shyness, and seven parts were genuine seduction. They were shimmering with tears, as if they wanted to say something but held back, as if they contained a thousand words and ten thousand kinds of charm, and also seemed to carry an invisible hook.

Seeing this, Ximen Qing, the high-ranking official, was filled with lust, but he remained perfectly clear-headed.

No wonder she's called Pan Jinlian; she started seducing the new master even before entering the house.

Dressed simply, she captivates with her alluring gaze alone; if she were to start a live stream in modern times, she would undoubtedly attract countless donations.

Ximen Qing walked to the side of the horse without turning his head, and said indifferently, "Now that you have kowtowed, you are one of us. Come here and help me mount the horse."

Upon hearing this, Jinlian's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly got up and took small steps forward.

She walked to the side of the horse, and was about to reach out to help Ximen Qing's arm when she saw Ximen Qing suddenly turn around and put his large hand directly around her slender waist!

I could feel the soft, delicate texture of her waist as I touched it. Through the thin blue cloth shirt, the suppleness of her waist and the smooth, warm skin seemed to be transmitted to me in a tangible way.

He applied a little force and lifted Jinlian up completely!
"Ah!" Jinlian exclaimed softly, her voice not loud, but filled with great surprise and an undisguised joy.

Pan Jinlian felt her body lighten, and in the blink of an eye, she was being steadily lifted up by Ximen Qing.

His large hand supported her waist and hips, in a tricky position, yet with steady force.

Jinlian felt the thick, hot palm beneath her buttocks, and could feel the roughness and strength of his hand through her thin trousers.

The shame of never having been touched before, coupled with the position itself, sent a jolt of pleasure through her, like a small snake darting from her tailbone to the top of her head, causing her to let out a soft moan and tremble all over.

Ximen Qing, however, paid no attention and gently placed her on the saddle of the tall horse.

Immediately afterwards, he mounted the horse, his movements nimble and swift, and sat steadily behind Jinlian. His tall and strong body immediately enveloped the petite Pan Jinlian in his arms.

Pan Jinlian was completely enveloped and imprisoned by him.

The intense masculine scent, mixed with a hint of sweat and expensive incense, filled her nostrils and overwhelmed her senses.

Behind him was a chest as hard as a rock and as hot as a furnace, around his waist were arms like iron hoops, beneath his buttocks was a solid saddle, and on his lower abdomen were burning hot palms...

Everywhere he looked, every inch of his body was occupied by Ximen Qing.

The horse moved slightly, and the two of them rubbed against each other.

An unprecedented, overwhelming sense of peace washed over Pan Jinlian, like hot oil poured over her heart, permeating her entire being, inside and out.

In the arms of the master, all the storms and vicissitudes of the world outside, along with the baseness and fear in her bones, melted away like snow in the sun!

They watched with envious and jealous eyes as the maids and servants of the wealthy Zhang family came and went.

Pan Jinlian, while exuding arrogance, glared back fiercely.

This is my master, but is it permissible for you to look at him?

You peasants, you think you can have my body?

She had a hard life since childhood, drifting like duckweed, suffering from scorn and cold words. When had she ever tasted such a solid and reliable support?

Pan Jinlian fell into the man's arms.

That ambition surged forth uncontrollably; this man should belong to me, Pan Jinlian!
I'm determined to hold him tight! I'll use every trick in the book to entangle him until he's weak in the knees and can't live without me!
He could no longer have room for a second woman in his eyes and heart!

This vast Ximen mansion, with its mountains of gold and seas of silver, and its servants at your beck and call, will sooner or later bear my surname, Pan Jinlian!
Once this thought arose, it was like dry grass in the wild that had been doused with oil, instantly turning into a raging fire that could no longer be suppressed!
Let's leave aside the fact that Master Ximen took Jinlian back to his residence.

Now, Lai Bao received his orders early in the morning, tucked the ten-tael silver pouch into his bosom and hid it close to his skin, straightened his decent blue silk robe, and headed to the county seat to search for it.

Before long, they found a small house facing the street, with a narrow facade and broken paper windows.

Lai Bao gently knocked on the wooden door and called out, "Is Mr. Wen Bigu at home?"

(End of this chapter)