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

Chapter 105 Mission Accomplished
Gui Jie turned around, bowed, and left.

But her words were like thorns that had taken root, piercing Mrs. Lin's heart.

Not only did it take root, but it was also etched into my heart, something I chewed over and over again, and the more I chewed, the more unpleasant it became.

Her branch of the Lin family, once a renowned lineage among the Nine Shepherds of the world, has fallen to such a state that they consider burning incense before their ancestral tablets unseemly and dare not mention their clan origins again.

Mrs. Lin stood alone in front of the dim bronze mirror, her reflection conveying a sense of loneliness and desolation. As she looked at herself, Gui-jie's words began to chatter in her ears again, each sentence like a needle pricking at a flame, making her heart pound wildly.

The woman in the mirror had slightly loose hair and phoenix eyes filled with sorrow. Although some fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes, her oval face was still fair and smooth, and her figure was perfectly proportioned, with curves in all the right places that were captivating.

Just as Sister Gui said.

Even if she were to attend those grand gatherings of noble ladies in the capital, in terms of looks and figure, Mrs. Lin would certainly be outstanding! But... but why? Why is it that she, bearing the prestigious title of a third-rank noblewoman, is the most impoverished and shabby inside?
This damned imperial title! It sounds incredibly prestigious, but it's actually a pair of solid gold shackles! You can't eat it, you can't wear it, and you certainly can't remarry!
It was like an airtight cage, imprisoning her beautiful body and figure, which she herself loved so dearly, along with her heart that was not yet completely dead!

The tight budget made it hard for her to breathe; she couldn't even afford a decent box of rouge. Her body was overgrown with weeds, and she was left with only an empty title, guarding a living dead tomb!
For the past hundred days, those damned scoundrels have been clapping their bamboo clappers and singing, singing about her "cheating on her husband" and "keeping a cuckold"... As Mrs. Lin listened to those filthy words, it felt like a ladle of boiling oil had been poured into her heart, burning and aching!

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her body swollen and about to burst like a ripe, plump fruit, and a strong, hateful longing surged up within her: Damn it all! If only a "man" could steal from her, rob her, and defile her! That would be far better than this miserable existence!
Mrs. Lin was feeling sorry for herself.

As Gui-jie left Wang Zhaoxuan's residence, she looked around and saw no sign of the sedan chair. She figured the lazy sedan chair bearers had gotten impatient and run off on their own! She was so angry that she stomped her little feet, her face flushed with resentment, and she cursed the unlucky sedan chair bearers a thousand times over in her heart.

Night had fallen, the darkness like spilled ink. This place was several streets away from the brothel, bustling with traffic during the day, but now it was like a ghost town.

It was pitch black all around, not a single star could be seen, only the wind howling through the alleys, like a lonely soul crying out in the wilderness after losing its companion.

The old trees along the roadside had gnarled and twisted branches, casting long, dark shadows, as if hiding countless demons and monsters, ready to pounce at any moment.

No matter how cunning Sister Gui was, she was still a naive young girl. She had never walked such a gloomy and eerie road alone before.

Without even a lantern in his hand, he could only rely on the faint moonlight to discern the uneven cobblestone path beneath his feet.

The wind grew stronger, blowing her hair into disarray and sending chills down her spine.

Every hoot of an owl, every soft snap of a twig, terrified her, making her feel as if her soul would fly away.

The cleverness she had shown in front of Mrs. Lin was nowhere to be seen. She felt weak in the knees, her chest tight, her pretty face pale as white as newly pasted window paper, and she was covered in cold sweat. Even her teeth were chattering.

All the scheming and pretense of the past were now swallowed up by the boundless darkness and fear, leaving only a lonely, terrified little woman.

Just as he was filled with panic and helplessness, trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind, wishing he could die instantly to avoid this torment, suddenly—

Dede dede... Dede dede...

In the distance, a clear and steady sound of hooves broke the silence, approaching slowly but surely. Then, a dim, yellowish halo swayed and pierced through the thick darkness, dispelling the surrounding menacing shadows, and moved straight toward them!

Gui Jie'er's heart leaped into her throat. She clenched her fists, held her breath, and stared wide-eyed at the source of the light, her eyes wide with shock.

In this world, for a beautiful woman, encountering a strange man on a dark night is more terrifying than a ghost.

As the horses drew nearer, the lantern's light became clearer, revealing a familiar face—but who was it if not the powerful and dashing Ximen Qing from Qinghe County?!

He...he came here at this time.
Has...has he come looking for me?
Is it...is this person here to pick me up?

In that instant, Gui Jie felt a surge of scalding heat rush up from the depths of her icy heart, making her eyes sting and her stiff muscles go limp. The boundless, overwhelming fear of darkness that had threatened to engulf her seemed to be completely dispelled by the light of the lantern and the figure on horseback!

That feeling was like being suddenly pulled back from the deepest hell to the warm human world, like taking a breath of life from a drowning predicament!

It's so, so good!
Someone has come looking for me!
"My...my lord!" Gui Jie'er's voice trembled and choked without her even realizing it. She no longer cared about being dignified or reserved. She stumbled and rushed towards the light and the horse's shadow, as if it were the only piece of driftwood a drowning person could grab onto.

Her face, which had been deathly pale just moments before, now flushed with an unusual blush due to the sudden joy and immense relief. Her eyes glistened with tears, reflecting the warm light of the lantern. It was a mixture of the shock of surviving a disaster and an indescribable gratitude, almost like being redeemed.

The lantern's light, though small, illuminated her heart, completely crushing the agonizing darkness that had just enveloped her, and embracing her in the light from that moment on.

Gui Jie'er's heart was still pounding like a drum. She raised her pretty face, still streaked with tears but flushed with rouge, her eyes watery and timid as she looked at Ximen Qing on horseback. Her voice trembled with three parts lingering fear and seven parts disbelief and shyness: "My...Master...you...you actually came all this way to fetch me?"

As soon as she asked the question, she felt as if she were walking on cotton, her senses shaky and unreal. Who was this Ximen Qingmen? A powerful figure in Qinghe County! How could he possibly care about a lowly courtesan like her, struggling to walk alone at night? The thought sent a chill down her spine.

The official reined in his horse, looking down at his usual suave smile in the dim light of the lantern.

He chuckled through his nose, the sound particularly clear in the quiet night: "You've done things for me, so naturally I'll protect you! That sedan bearer is, after all, a man whose background I don't know. How can I let you put yourself in danger? I'm a little worried!" He paused slightly, looked around, and frowned: "Where's the sedan chair? Did it run away?"

These few words, each and every one, were like a red-hot iron rod, suddenly piercing through the thick layer of worldly sophistication that usually clung to Sister Gui.

It struck right at the heart of my unexpectedly exposed vulnerability! Especially that phrase, "I'll protect you!" and that "I can't rest easy about you!"
Gui-jie, who frequented the brothel, was used to the sweet talk and lewd songs sung by the clients to the prostitutes; her ears were practically calloused. But today, she felt no sneer!

It felt stronger than the strongest liquor and more toxic than the most potent aphrodisiac!

A torrent of heat, spiciness, sourness, and astringency instantly shattered the strong defenses she had built up as a courtesan.

She felt a sudden sting in her nose, and an unprecedented, burning pain surged from the depths of her heart to her eyes. Tears, which she could no longer hold back, streamed down her face like broken beads, mingling with the cold sweat she had just broken from fright. She didn't even bother to wipe them away.

Her heart was in turmoil, like a small boat being battered by giant waves. This feeling, which she had never experienced before, filled her with both fear and ecstasy, and she almost fainted.

She cast aside the affected manner she had honed by selling smiles at the door, and wished she could pour out the burning passion in her heart and present it to Ximen Qing.

She rushed forward, tilting her tear-streaked, flushed face upwards. Her voice, trembling with sobs yet filled with urgency and a fawning eagerness, said hastily, "Rest assured, my lord! I have accomplished my mission! Madam Lin has already agreed! It's done! It's truly done!"

Ximen Qing hummed in response, nodding slightly. He lifted his eyelids and looked up at Gui Jie'er's pretty face, still wet with tears, gazing up at him. A playful smile appeared on his lips: "Still calling me 'Master'?"

Gui Jie'er's mind went blank! An unprecedented surge of ecstatic joy, mixed with immense fear and humility, rushed to her head, burning her ears!

"Master...Master!" As she cried out, she felt a dizzying sensation, as if she had finally obtained something she had longed for.

Ximen Da Guanren was clearly quite satisfied with this reaction, and the smile on his lips deepened. He casually beckoned to her: "Come on up. The night breeze is cool, sit tight, I'll listen to your explanation."

Before he finished speaking, he bent down, reached out with his large hand, and lifted Gui Jie'er up effortlessly as if she were a light object, holding her steadily in his arms and placing her in front of the saddle.

With that sense of entitlement, Gui Jie'er felt a lightness in her body as she was enveloped in a man's warm embrace, carrying a faint scent of alcohol and fragrance. The bone-chilling coldness from before vanished instantly.

"Giddy up!" Ximen Qing shouted softly, urging his mount forward. The clatter of hooves shattered the silence of the night.

(End of this chapter)