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

Chapter 16 Disciplining the Servants
This fellow was born with rosy lips and white teeth, and was clever and obedient. He was usually the favorite of Ximen Qing, and often served him with writing brushes and ink in the study, and occasionally accompanied him to drink and have fun.

The petty theft continued unabated, but Ximen never bothered to argue with him.

Who knew he was also a traitor?

How could I possibly still want him now!

"Scholar, come forward."

The pageboy shuffled forward tremblingly, then knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling: "Father... Your humble servant is here."

Ximen Qing ignored them, took out a snow-white silver ingot from his sleeve, weighing a full five taels, and slammed it onto the floor tiles in front of him with a loud "smack".

"Take this silver, pack your bedding, and get out of the Ximen mansion immediately! From this day forward, you are never to set foot in the Ximen family again!"

These words shocked the entire hall!

The pageboy was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale! Five taels of silver was a considerable severance pay for a servant, but this sudden expulsion was like a bolt from the blue!
"Father! Father, spare my life!" The pageboy was the first to react, kowtowing repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. "I...I don't know which family rule I broke? Please, Father, have mercy! I'll never dare to do it again! Please, Father, let me live!"

The other servants were terrified, their clothes trembling as they stood, not daring to even breathe.

The young painters and chess players, in particular, were pale with fear, lest they be next.

Ximen Qing remained unmoved, his face as cold as frost. He sneered, "Loyal? Humph! Do you think I don't know what you've been up to behind the scenes? I don't tolerate any nonsense! I'm already showing you extraordinary mercy by sparing your life today! If you dare to utter another word, you'll regret it! Take the money and get out of here!"

The pageboy saw that his mind was made up and there was no room for negotiation, and knew that further pleading would be useless.
With tears in her eyes and trembling, she picked up the silver from the ground, kowtowed several times to Ximen Qing, and retreated in sobs to pack her meager belongings.

The hall was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing and suppressed fear of the crowd.

If even the most favored servant has been driven away, what about me?
Ximen Qing then slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife, and swept over the silent, trembling crowd in the hall once more:

"You all saw it? This is the consequence of not keeping to one's duty and betraying one's master! I, Ximen Qing, never treat my servants poorly! Their food, clothing, and daily necessities are ten times better than those of ordinary people!"

"But if someone thinks that gaining some face gives them the right to cause trouble behind the scenes, to be dishonest, or to rely on a little cleverness and forget who they are, forget who the master of this mansion is..."

He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern: "I'll give that page a reward for the time he served me, and get him out of here!"

"If there are any more lawless and heartless scoundrels like that, and I get solid evidence against them, forget about money, I'll skin them alive, pull out their tendons, and send them to the yamen so they can't live or die! Do you all understand?!"

As he spoke, he looked at the steward and came to his aid.

That guy isn't a good person either.

However, his excellent interpersonal skills are still useful.

That one look from him nearly scared Lai Bao to death.

Trembling, he was ready to confess all the embezzled silver as soon as his master asked him a question.

"I understand...I understand!"

Everyone was terrified by his murderous words and responded in unison, their voices trembling.

"Hmm." Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction, his tone softening slightly.

"Alright, everyone disperse! Go do what you were doing! Just keep this as a record!"

Ximen Qing waved his hand. The crowd, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly bowed and took their leave, each one staggering.

As if a ghost was chasing them, they vanished in an instant.

The huge front hall, which had just been filled with kneeling people, was now empty except for Lai Bao.

Lai Bao was so frightened that he was out of his mind and knelt on the ground, trembling.

“Lai Bao,” said Master Ximen, “you’ve been in my household for quite some time now, haven’t you?”

"Yes...yes, I am grateful for Father's kindness and have been serving in the manor for seven or eight years now." Lai Bao pressed his forehead against the cold floor tiles, not daring to look up.

"Seven or eight years...that's not a short time," Master Ximen said slowly. "You've handled quite a few things in the mansion, inside and out, haven't you?"

Lai Bao's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly broke out. There was a hidden meaning in those words! He quickly replied, "This...this humble servant has only done his best to share Father's burdens, daring not to slack off in the slightest, and even less daring...daring not to deceive in the slightest!"

"Do your best?" Master Ximen scoffed. "Where are the three taels of silver I saved when I asked you to buy a saddle for me the other day?"

Lai Bao is a treacherous scoundrel who stabs people in the back, it's a pity we still need him now!

Lai Bao's whole body trembled violently!

He was terrified, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He could barely speak: "Father...Father, spare me! I...I deserve to die! I was blinded by greed! I was confused for a moment! Please, Father, have mercy! I'll make up for it right away! I'll make up for it right away! Please, Father, spare my dog's life!"

He cried and kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead instantly turning bruised and purple.

Seeing his disheveled state, Ximen Qing kicked him to the ground: "Hmph! A moment of confusion? I think you're getting bolder and bolder! I usually turn a blind eye, but you saw what happened to the page today? Considering you've served me for many years and are a steward, I'm giving you some face and not exposing you in public!"

Upon hearing this, Lai Bao felt as if he had grasped a lifeline and cried even harder.
"Thank you, Father, for your mercy! Thank you, Father, for your mercy! I will never dare to do it again! I swear to Heaven, if it ever happens again, may I be struck by lightning! I... I am willing to serve you like a slave, Father, to repay your kindness in sparing my life!"

Seeing that he was almost frightened, Ximen Qing slowly said, "Get up."

Lai Bao felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He shakily got up, but still dared not stand up straight. He hunched over and hung his head, like a wilted eggplant.

Ximen Qing stared at him, his voice deep and powerful: "Lai Bao, you better remember this. In this Ximen mansion, you're in charge; it's a favor I've given you!"

"I'm not telling you to embezzle and line your own pockets! You need to keep your eyes, ears, and mouth open and alert! Look at what you should see, and close your eyes to what you shouldn't! Listen to what you should hear, and plug your ears to what you shouldn't! Say what you should say, and sew your mouth shut to what you shouldn't!"

"If I find out that you're doing anything underhanded behind my back, or leaking even a single word about what's going on in the manor..."

Ximen Da Guanren paused for a moment: "I will make your whole family suffer a terrible death! Do you understand?"

"Understood! Understood! Understood!" Lai Bao felt a chill run up his spine, his hair stood on end, and he nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice.

"I am utterly loyal to you, Father! I am your dog! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west! If you tell me to shut up, I will be mute! If you tell me to go blind, I will be blind! Please, Father, see the truth!"

He was so frightened that he swallowed all his thoughts and hid them tightly, no longer daring to harbor any illusions.

But at this time.

Dai'an rushed in: "Father, Second Master Ying has brought two unfamiliar faces to request an audience!"

(End of this chapter)