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

Chapter 71 Jinlian Catches the Adulterer
Jinlian deliberately hid in a corner of the front yard with a tray, keeping a close eye on Yuxiao. When she left, she quietly followed.

When she saw Chen An emerge from the cave and grab Yu Xiao, she sneered and walked back.

The steward, Laiwang, was steadily approaching and calling out to the servants to bring out the dishes.

“Manager Laiwang!” Pan Jinlian called out.

Laiwang was busy running around when he heard the sound. He looked up and saw Pan Jinlian. His impatience immediately turned into caution. Unlike the other servants, he didn't know much from working with Ximen Qing.

Knowing full well that the woman before him was the official's new favorite and might one day become his master, he couldn't afford to be negligent. He quickly bowed and asked with a forced smile, "Miss Lian, what are your orders?" But he dared not let his eyes wander.

"Quick! Catch the thief!" Jinlian said urgently.

"What? A thief?!" Laiwang sobered up instantly from the alcohol. "Where is the thief?"

Pan Jinlian stopped and said, "I went for a walk in the back to digest my food. When I got to the base of the artificial hill, a thieving and vicious ruffian crawled in through the dog hole! He came up and... and started pulling at Yuxiao! Yuxiao was so scared that she lost her mind and dropped her hairpins and jewelry all over the ground!"

"Ah?!" Laiwang was so shocked that his face turned pale, and beads of sweat streamed down his temples. "A...a thief crawled in through a dog hole? And...and pulled at Miss Yuxiao? This is outrageous! Outrageous! Miss Lian, did you see it clearly?"

His voice trembled. This wasn't just a matter of thieves, or the security of the inner quarters, but also the dereliction of duty on his part as steward! Especially since it involved Yuxiao, a prominent maid in Yueniang's quarters, whose status was even higher than his!

“I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false?” Pan Jinlian’s eyebrows shot up.

Laiwang was terrified, a chill running from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!

"Fuck your mother! You damned bastard!" Laiwang suddenly straightened up, his face turning a deep purplish-red. He abandoned all pretense of civility and roared in his hoarse voice, "This is outrageous! How dare you provoke me! Where are they?! Are they all dead?! Grab your weapons! Grab your weapons, you bastards!" His roar was like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

"Master Wang!" "What's going on?" "A thief broke into the backyard? Daring to touch Sister Yuxiao?"

"That's right!" Laiwang snatched a fire poker from a servant beside him, spitting as he spoke. "A scoundrel has crawled into the backyard! Miss Lian saw it with her own eyes! That scoundrel dared to pull at Miss Yuxiao! Come with me! Catch this bastard and break his legs first! Beat him to death! Anyone who backs down will be kicked out of the Ximen Mansion tomorrow!" He charged into the backyard like a mad boar.

Upon hearing that a thief who crawled through a dog hole dared to pull at Sister Yuxiao, the head maid of the inner quarters, the group of drunken servants and guards immediately erupted in chaos! This was outrageous! It was the perfect time to show their loyalty and clear themselves of any involvement!
Everyone grabbed whatever they could find, cursing "bastard," "you son of a bitch," "fuck your ancestors for eight generations," and "you son of a bitch," and followed Laiwang in a chaotic, swarming manner, with lanterns and torches waving wildly, people shouting and dogs barking, heading straight for the backyard!
Jinlian stood aside, hands on her slender waist, giggling incessantly. She covered her cherry-red mouth with a handkerchief, laughing so hard she almost fell over. Only then did she take small steps to catch up and watch the excitement.

Behind the artificial hill, Chen An had just taken off his pants and was undressing while holding the jade flute when he suddenly heard deafening shouts of battle coming from the front yard. The firelight was bright, and countless footsteps and curses surged in like a tide, scaring him half to death! He muttered "Oh no!" and turned to try to crawl into the dog hole.

No sooner said than done! Laiwang and his men had already rushed forward! "You bastard! Where do you think you're going!" Laiwang, with his sharp eyes, saw Yuxiao turn around, his clothes disheveled, and in the firelight, he spotted a black butt sticking out, about to shove it into a dog hole! Enraged, he swung his fire poker with all his might, delivering a powerful "Snake Out of its Hole" blow to the upturned buttocks! Then, he delivered another "Snake Back into its Hole!"
"Ouch!" Chen An suddenly threw his head back and let out a bloodcurdling scream! The pain made his vision go black, his whole body went limp, and half of his body was stuck in the dog hole! He looked like a mouse with its tail nailed to it!

"Grab this thief by the root! Don't let him get away!" Laiwang jumped up and down, his voice cracking. Several fierce guards pounced on him, some pulling his hair, some dragging his legs, and some, out of sheer boredom, even grabbed his genitals for leverage, and pulled Chen An out of the dog hole like a radish!
Chen An, groaning and rolling in mud and rotten leaves, clutched his head and begged for mercy when a barrage of blows rained down on him! "I'll teach you to crawl through a dog hole, you bastard!" "I'll teach you to court death, you thieving bastard!" "Fuck your mother! Beat this bastard to death!" "Break his troublesome manhood!" "You little brat, how dare you be so arrogant!" Chen An was beaten until he cried out for his parents, rolling on the ground, clutching his head and screaming, "Dear grandfather! Dear ancestor! Spare me! A huge injustice! A misunderstanding! I'm Chen An! Not a thief! Spare me, Brother Lai Wang!" His face was covered in snot and tears.

"Misunderstanding my ass! Chen An, you thieving prisoner! How dare you sneak through a dog hole to force your way in!" Lai Wang recognized him, which only fueled his anger. He kicked him hard in the waist again and spat, "Tie him up! Stuff this prisoner's stinking mouth with a stinky rag! Don't disturb the distinguished guests in the front hall! Drag him to the woodshed and lock him up! Await the master's judgment!" He gave the order viciously, but his eyes subconsciously glanced at Yu Xiao, who was trembling and slumped on the ground in the distance. He thought she was terrified!

Several servants quickly bound Chen An with thick hemp rope, making him look like a dumpling with his limbs turned upside down. Then, they tore off a greasy, smelly rag from somewhere and shoved it into Chen An's mouth, making his eyes roll back and he could only groan muffledly. The group dragged the bruised, swollen, and stinking "thief" away from the backyard like a dead dog.

In the chaotic shadows, Pan Jinlian stood at a distance, expressionless, watching Chen An being dragged away like a dead dog, and watching Yu Xiao being helped up, still trembling. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips. She tidied her neatly combed sideburns, turned around, and gracefully walked back.

The noise was so loud that it couldn't be hidden from Master Ximen.

In the front hall, the high-ranking official was chatting and laughing with Zhou Tong. Yue Fei had just picked up his wine cup when suddenly a deafening commotion erupted from the backyard, accompanied by clear screams and curses. Ximen Qing's smile froze instantly. Wu Yueniang was so startled that her hand trembled, and her chopsticks fell onto the table.

Zhou Tong put down his wine cup, his white beard trembling slightly. Young Yue Fei's gaze sharpened, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his clear eyes as he looked into the depths of the suddenly chaotic lights.

The laughter and chatter in the lobby came to an abrupt halt.

The smile on the official's face vanished instantly, as if frozen by frost, leaving only a gloomy, dark cloud. He slammed his silver chopsticks heavily on the table, making a crisp "crack" that sent the dishes and bowls trembling slightly.

Wu Yueniang shuddered in fright, and Zhou Tong and Yue Fei also put down their wine cups at the same time, their gazes turning solemnly to the source of the chaos outside the hall.

"What's all this commotion up ahead?!" Ximen Qing's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling aura that pierced the brief silence. His gaze, sharp as a knife, pierced a servant standing at the door, equally bewildered and uncertain.

The servant's legs cramped, and he hurriedly knelt down: "Reporting to...Reporting to my master, I...I don't know the details. I only heard shouts of 'Catch the thief!' from the backyard, and Steward Laiwang led his men over there..."

The official's brows furrowed deeply: "Tell them to bring the person here!"

A moment later, the pig-like screams and the clamor of voices outside grew closer, mixed with harsh shouts and the sound of dragging heavy objects.

Laiwang rushed into the front hall, panting and sweating profusely. Behind him, several servants were dragging a young man, bound like a dead dog, gagged, bruised and covered in blood. It was Chen An! The young man writhed and struggled on the ground, groaning, his eyes filled with terror and despair as he stared intently at Ximen Qing.

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(End of this chapter)