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

Chapter 17 Beauty Climbs the Wall
"Let them go to the Lichun Courtyard and have a banquet, put it on my tab!" Master Ximen waved his fan.

Although Earl Ying was a rogue, to be fair...

Some things were handled reliably.

Dai'an nodded and went out.

When Ximen Da Guanren saw that Lai Bao had been reprimanded by him, he was so frightened that he was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow.

He completely suppressed even his petty thieving thoughts and nodded in satisfaction.

I'm not good at these principles of managing people.

But the same principle applies throughout history.

In short, it's nothing more than making an example of someone to scare others, or using a warning shot to intimidate others.

The tactic of giving a slap followed by a sweet treat is the best way to manage both subordinates and women.

"Well, since you understand, that's good." Ximen Qing's tone softened. He fumbled in his sleeve for a moment, then pulled out a heavy, gleaming silver ingot and slapped it onto the small rosewood table beside him with a "thud."

The silver weighed a good ten taels and gleamed alluringly in the candlelight.

Lai Bao glanced at the silver and his heart skipped a beat, thinking that his master was going to dismiss him.

Terrified, he kowtowed repeatedly, begging for his life.

This entire family depends on making a living at the Ximen residence.

If I were to actually drive myself away, I wouldn't have any skills.

In such a chaotic world, he offended a local tyrant in Qinghe County.

Who would dare to take them in?

I'm afraid they won't live more than a few months before their whole family has to beg.

"What's the panic? I'm not sending you away. This ten taels of silver isn't for you; it's for you to find a scholar." Ximen Qing pointed to the silver ingot.

Upon hearing this, Lai Bao felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

Ignoring what his master said, he hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, I misunderstood, I understand!"

Ximen Qing continued, "Tomorrow morning, go to Huai Shu Lane in the east of the city and find a scholar named Wen Bigu, courtesy name Rixin. He lives at the very end of the lane, in the house with the crooked old locust tree in front of his door."

Lai Bao quickly replied, "I've got it! Locust Tree Lane, the crooked old locust tree, Wen Bigu Wen Rixin!"

"Hmm." Ximen Qing nodded. "After you find him, don't say much. Just say that Master Ximen wants to get to know Zhai Qian, the steward of Master Cai's mansion, and that you can use these ten taels of silver to buy him a letter of introduction."

Lai Bao, being quick-witted, immediately understood: "I understand!! I will definitely handle it perfectly for Father."

"It's getting late today, and the scholar's residence is in a remote place. If you go to look for him now, you might encounter some mishap on the road at night. Go again early tomorrow morning."

"Yes! Thank you for your consideration, Father! I will do my utmost, even at the cost of my life!" Lai Bao felt as if he had been granted a pardon and had been given a task. The fear in his heart was greatly diminished by the enormous mission.

He carefully picked up the heavy silver ingot, clenched it tightly in his palm, bowed deeply to Ximen Qing, and then backed out of the front hall.

As he stepped out of the hall, a gust of night wind made Lai Bao feel a chill run down his spine!
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then weighed the warm silver ingot in his hand, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

How come my father, who only drinks and plays around with women, has become so unpredictable in just two days!
He dared not think too much, nor delay, and carefully hid the silver on his body before hurrying back to his residence to arrange things for the next day.

Xi Men's wife, Hui Xiang, was a maid in the laundry room of the Xi Men household and also witnessed everything.

Seeing that her husband had been detained by Ximen Qing, she was so frightened that she held her daughter and was completely terrified.

I waited for him at the door early.

Seeing that he had returned safely and unharmed, and had not been driven away by the high-ranking official, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That night, Lai Bao tossed and turned, unable to sleep well at all.

I'll think about how to handle that matter well in a moment!

Then I start thinking, what if I can't do it right?
Then she thought about Ximen Qing's cold gaze and the fate of the pageboy.

Then I woke up from a nightmare where I saw my family begging and being beaten to death with sticks!

I feel that if I continue to work as the steward of the Ximen family, I will have to be extremely careful in the future!
In this chaotic world, rebellions broke out everywhere.

There's no guarantee that my family won't end up like those displaced people waiting for porridge.

He sold his daughters and wives, becoming the lowest-class prostitute in the alley.

Meanwhile, Ximen Qing had dismissed Lai Bao, and with the matters concerning the wealthy Zhang and the scholar settled, and having also established his authority by instructing his servants, he felt quite pleased.

The scene of a large group of servants kneeling in the hall.

That power to decide life and death with a single word!

Indeed, in some ways it's even more pleasurable than with a woman!
It gives me the feeling that a true man should live like this!
At this moment, he was nothing more than a local tyrant in Qinghe County!

How wonderful it would be if I could sit in the positions of Cai Jing, Gao Qiu, Prince Bei Jing, or Prince Teng!
Thinking of this, Ximen Da Guanren couldn't help but try hard to recall his memories.

I want to see the grand scenery of this world!
But I just can't remember.

These memories have gradually merged.

But this original body was like a lustful demon, spending all its time working on women.

They were either slept in the bed of the neighbor's wife or making love in the bedchamber of the neighbor's wife!

How could one possibly know the general trend of the world!
At most, all I know about these few powerful figures in the current court!
Don't know anything else.

Ximen Da Guanren sighed with emotion.

As dusk approached and the sun set in the west, only a faint crimson glow remained on the horizon, casting an ambiguous warm hue over the high walls and grand courtyard of the Ximen Mansion.

He straightened his clothes, preparing to go out to the banquet at the Lichun Courtyard. He waved his gold-flecked fan and strolled towards the gate.

Just as they passed through the front yard and reached the moon gate connecting the inner and outer residences, they suddenly heard a series of soft sounds coming from the other side of the wall, as if someone was climbing, mixed with a few low, anxious moans from a woman.

Ximen Qing paused, his curiosity piqued, and looked up in the direction of the sound.

This glance was quite remarkable; on the high pink wall of their own house, right next to the crenellation of the neighbor's wall, a fair, white arm was peeking out!

Her arm, as white and tender as a lotus root, dazzled the eye in the dim twilight.

Five slender, onion-like fingers were anxiously reaching and waving towards the inside of the wall, as if trying to grab something.

As she moved her arms, the wide, light red gauze sleeves slid down, piling up at the elbows, instantly revealing a large section of her smooth, jade-like arms.

Even the hidden, jade-like dimples under her armpits were faintly visible, whether from thorough cleaning or from their naturally delicate texture, it was hard to tell.

Even the discerning Ximen official couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.

He looked closely in the direction of the jade-like arm and saw a butterfly kite with a broken string hanging diagonally on a peach branch by his wall. Its colorful wings fluttered, but it was no longer able to move.

So this beautiful woman was trying to reach the kite!

The beautiful woman on the wall seemed impatient; seeing that the kite was still a foot or so away from her fingertips, she climbed up even higher.

Ximen Qing could see it more clearly now—he saw a small foot wearing soft-soled embroidered shoes step over and brace itself against the crack in the wall bricks.

Her plump, round buttocks trembled as she sat on the wall!
(End of this chapter)