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

Chapter 35 Ximen Yama Distributes Sweets
Baochai quickly stepped forward to support her mother, her brows furrowed, and gently advised, "Mother, please don't get angry, take care of yourself. My brother was just being impulsive, I'll go and talk to him right away."

With that, she gestured for Ying'er to look after her mother, then hurried towards the noisy area. Inside the cabin, only Madam Xue remained, gazing out at the twilight, murmuring, "A tragedy...a true tragedy...so reckless, what will become of them once they reach the capital..."

Xue Baochai entered the cabin.

But the newly arrived maid, Xiangling, was so frightened that she huddled in the corner of the cabin, trembling with fear.

Xiangling had an oval face that was originally fair and delicate, but now it was marked with several bright red finger marks, which made her skin look even more tender and delicate.

Tears rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls, dripping onto her mauve dress and leaving damp patches.

She dared not make a sound, only sobbing softly, her shoulders trembling slightly, like a pear blossom in the spring rain, carrying a touch of sorrow, a touch of fragility, and an indescribable charm and allure.

Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, resembled a peach. Her long eyelashes, wet with tears, clung together, making her look even more pitiful and adorable.

Despite his disheveled state, his natural and charming demeanor was impossible to conceal.

Her fair face, glistening with tears, resembled a water chestnut peeled in early spring meeting the morning dew.

Moist and fragrant.

The name Xiangling, which I had come up with by chance, was given to her, and it was truly fitting!
Baochai sighed.

No wonder her brother got into a murder case in his attempt to win her over.

But as the saying goes, beautiful women are often considered a source of trouble, and how many of them have a good life?
at this time.

Xue Pan was still furious and pointed at him, cursing, "Useless thing! You can't even hold a teacup properly, what a waste of my money to support you!"

Baochai, seeing this, already understood most of the situation. Knowing her brother's temperament, she didn't try to persuade him first. Instead, she slowly walked to Xiangling's side, took out a clean handkerchief from her sleeve, handed it to her, and said gently, "Don't cry anymore, you'll hurt your eyes. It's just a cup you accidentally broke, what's the big deal? Is it worth making such a fuss?"

These words were ostensibly meant to comfort Xiangling, but were actually intended for Xue Pan's ears.

Upon seeing his sister arrive, Xue Pan's arrogance immediately diminished by three points, but he still muttered, "Sister, you don't know, this official kiln covered bowl is worth several taels of silver..."

Baochai then turned to face Xue Pan, her expression calm and without a trace of anger. She said lightly, "Brother, please calm down. It's just an object. No matter how valuable it is, is it more important than a person? Our family is about to go to the capital to visit relatives and friends. There are so many important matters waiting for us. If you get angry over such a small thing, you might harm your health. Or if the noise gets out and the boatmen and servants hear it, wouldn't they laugh at us? Those who know will say it was a maid's mistake, but those who don't will think that you're feeling uneasy since leaving Jinling and are using your servants as a form of witchcraft."

Her voice was soft, but every word she spoke made sense, highlighting the importance and consequences, and subtly reminding Xue Pan not to cause any more trouble.

Seeing Xue Pan speechless, Baochai continued, "Besides, Xiangling is a girl that you personally chose and bought, and you bear a great responsibility for her, so you should cherish her. She's young, and it's her first time traveling by boat, so it's understandable that she might get dizzy and lose her balance. You're usually very generous and magnanimous, so why are you holding a grudge today? Don't be angry, don't frighten her."

Xue Pan was silenced by his sister's words, which were a mix of gentle persuasion and firmness. Seeing Xiang Ling crying with tears streaming down her face, looking truly pitiful and adorable, his anger gradually subsided. Instead, he felt somewhat embarrassed and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright, since my sister has pleaded for me, let it go. Hurry up and clean these things up; they're an eyesore!"

Baochai then said gently to Xiangling, "What are you standing there for? Quickly go find a dustpan and broom and clean this place up. Then go fetch a basin of water and brew your brother a fresh pot of tea." This gave Xue Pan a way out and also sent Xiangling away, preventing her from being scolded again. Xiangling felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She quickly wiped away her tears, whispered "Yes," glanced timidly at Xue Pan, and hurriedly left.

Baochai then said to Xue Pan seriously, "Brother, Mother was just worried about you. You know our family's situation now. The capital is not like home, and your uncles' and aunts' houses are places with strict rules. You should be more patient and restrain your temper. Think about Mother's feelings and save your uncles and aunts from worrying too much."

Her words remained gentle, carrying the air of an older sister's admonition despite being the younger sister's.

Xue Pan hated hearing these things, but he couldn't refute his sister, so he could only nod haphazardly: "I know, I know, what's with all the nagging?" With that, he walked to the edge of the bed and lay down.

Seeing his demeanor, Baochai knew he wouldn't listen to much, so she sighed inwardly and said no more. She simply instructed Ying'er to help tidy up before turning back to comfort her mother.

After taking only two steps, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest and my breathing became slightly short. It seemed that the heat toxin I had brought from birth was about to flare up again.

She knew that the root of this illness was most aggravated by worry and anger. Her recent dealings with the situation, which seemed peaceful, were actually mentally and physically exhausting and had aggravated her old ailment.

Baochai remained calm and composed, gently pressing one hand to her chest without showing any sign of pain.

She secretly regulated her breathing, forcibly suppressing the surging discomfort, thinking to herself, "This old ailment has to come back to bother me now. I must not let my mother and brother notice anything amiss, lest they add another worry to their minds."

After standing for a while, and waiting for the discomfort to subside slightly, Baochai slowly walked out of the cabin, walked to the corridor, quietly took out a delicate little purse from her sleeve, reached in with her fingertips, and put a Cold Fragrance Pill in her mouth.

Suddenly, I felt a cool sensation spread into my throat and into my heart, which slightly suppressed the burning sensation and gradually relieved the throbbing pain in my chest.

She took a deep breath of the cool air on the river, concealing all her sickly and weary appearance, and then rallied her spirits to walk towards her mother's cabin, as if the discomfort she had just experienced had never happened.

Fortunately, we'll be able to reach Qinghe County tomorrow!

Now, let's talk about the Ximen residence.

Master Ximen had just figured out how to deal with the eight hundred bushels of old rice.

Then Lai Bao came in, looking travel-worn, and bowed, saying, "Father, Scholar Wen said that the letter needs to be carefully considered, and he will personally deliver it to your residence tonight."

Ximen Qing grunted and said, "In that case, you don't need to wait for him. Before it gets dark, immediately gather all the servants in the house and go to Warehouse No. 2 at the dock to load up the 100 shi of old rice and transport it to the open space near the city gate not far from the dock."

Lai Bao hurriedly replied, "Yes. I wonder which rice shop Father is looking for? I'd better go and inform them first..."

"Sell it?" Ximen Qing laughed, interrupting him: "No, I'm not selling it. I want to do good deeds. Not only that, you go there and set up a few soup kitchens for me, put up big pots, cook thick soup, and give it to those refugees who have fled famine, as well as those impoverished people inside and outside the city, three meals a day!"

Upon hearing this, not only Lai Bao, but also the other servants and maids standing in the hall were all frozen in place, speechless with astonishment, almost doubting that they had misheard!

(End of this chapter)