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

Chapter 220 Yue Niang Admits Her Mistake and Schemes Against Gongsun Sheng
Outside the vermilion gate of the Ximen Mansion.

The cold wind swirled, whipping up the withered leaves from the street corner, which rustled against Gongsun Sheng's Taoist robe, bestowed upon him by Lin Lingsu.

Gongsun Sheng was both surprised and delighted, and pondered the matter carefully.

My task was to bring the birthday gifts back.

In front of this Chief Judge Ximen, how could he dare to reveal even a single word of the truth?

He could only grit his teeth and complain that he was unlucky, had encountered bandits on the road, and had some of his money stolen.

They dared not mention the birthday tribute at all.

But now! Those lackeys at the prison have accidentally arrested the real culprit!

Gongsun Sheng walked quickly with his head down, but his mind was churning like boiling water. "Hua Zixu? Hua the Rich? What a rich and idle man! Nine out of ten times, it's you, you bastard, pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, robbing that deadly 100,000 taels of birthday tribute!"

He ground the three characters "Hua Zixu" between his teeth several times, as if he wanted to chew them up and swallow them.

"Damn scoundrel! You made me...so pathetic!" Recalling the panic and pain of being ganged up on that day, a surge of anger rushed to his head. "Heaven has eyes! I've finally run into you, the real culprit!"

As long as... as long as we can find the hiding place of the 100,000 taels of silver before the interrogation center can pry open Hua Zixu's mouth...

They moved their place without anyone noticing...

Once the storm has passed, quietly move it away...

Great things can be accomplished!!
Gongsun Sheng bid farewell to the smooth-talking Wu Daoguan at the threshold of the Ximen Mansion. The heavy vermilion gate creaked shut behind him, shutting out the warm fragrance and wealth inside the mansion.

The two sat in the carriage that led them back to the Jade Emperor Temple.

“Nephew,” Wu Daoguan naturally understood that the key to this matter lay with Hua Zixu. He glanced at Gongsun Sheng’s unpredictable face and tentatively asked, “What are your plans regarding this matter?”

Gongsun Sheng lowered his voice and said in a deep voice, "I'll trouble you, Uncle-Master, to quickly prepare the transport vehicles! Tonight, when all is quiet, I'll go to the Hua residence! Find those scoundrels and use some 'tricks,' and we shouldn't have to worry about finding out where the birthday gifts are hidden. Since Hua Zixu has used so much silver with the mark, the treasure must be hidden in his residence! Even if it isn't, it's not far away!"

Wu Daoguan smiled and said, "Nephew, don't worry! I'll go back to the Jade Emperor Temple right away and have the carriages and horses prepared perfectly! As soon as you've succeeded and sent the signal, I'll come and load the carriages immediately. I guarantee it will be done quickly!"

At this time, in the Ximen residence.

Ximen Da Guanren watched Gongsun Sheng and Wu Dao Guan's figures disappear into the biting wind outside the vermilion gate, his expression unchanged, and slowly strolled back into the warm pavilion inside the hall.

He did not sit down, but stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the few plum trees in the courtyard. His gaze was calm and profound, and his heart was as clear as a mirror.

Gongsun Sheng traveled a long way to sneak into Qinghe, not to help the government catch thieves, nor simply to seek revenge.

His association with Wu Yong's gang of bandits must have a deeper purpose. Most likely, it's because he's after the 100,000 strings of cash for the birthday gifts!

"I originally intended to use Wu Song as bait to capture this guy, but unexpectedly Li Ping'er caused a complication, which also brought up the case of Hua Zixu..." The official's eyebrows furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

When Gongsun Sheng took his leave, he was distracted and forgot to properly express his gratitude. His eagerness clearly showed that he already regarded Hua Zixu as his own!
"Hmph, since this scoundrel has already set his sights on the Hua residence, then perhaps we can change the bait and place it here." He sneered inwardly, a calm and composed demeanor of someone in complete control of the situation naturally emanating from him.

The time is of the essence, and there is no time to hesitate.

Thinking of this, the official's heart tightened, and he immediately called out, "Dai'an! Ping'an! Go quickly! Invite Ying Er, Wu Dingtou, and Instructor Shi to the mansion immediately for a meeting and explain the urgency of the situation!"

Shortly after, the three filed in.

The official dismissed his attendants, lowered his voice, and explained his plans in detail.

Upon hearing this, Ying Bojue's beady eyes gleamed, and he slapped his thigh, laughing, "Oh, my good brother! Don't worry! What kind of place is Qinghe County? It's our home, the place we brothers live in!"

"Let alone keeping an eye on a sorcerer, even if he farts loudly as he walks, we won't be able to hide it!"

Shi Wengong clasped his hands in a salute, his expression grave: "My lord, please allow me to report. I have been to the eastern front several times, and these wandering sorcerers, though they do not possess the supernatural powers that storytellers describe, do indeed have some inexplicable and wicked methods. I have seen them with my own eyes, and we must be wary of them."

Wu Song echoed in a deep voice, "Teacher Shi is absolutely right. We must be careful when dealing with such wicked people."

Seeing the two heroes so cautious, Earl Ying chuckled and said, "Two heroes! When it comes to battlefield combat, swords, spears, and clubs, let alone one Ying Huazi, even if a hundred of them were tied together, they wouldn't be enough to fill your teeth!"

His tone shifted abruptly, revealing a ruthless and despicable nature:
"But now we're in the dark, and he's in the light! What are we afraid of? Brother, please sit down. I'll go to the Lichun Courtyard and the Zuixian Tower right now! I'll get all the pimps and madams in the thirty-two brothels and seventy-two towers mobilized!"

"Give me several large buckets of Yue'er's 'Gui Shui Hong'! Gather dozens of used 'Yue Bu Zi'! It's still early, go find dozens of black-skinned old fanged dogs, kill them and take their blood! Keep the dog whips too, pickle them and make them into wine to enhance the virility of the two heroes!"

"I want to see if this sorcerer's magic still works after being splashed on the head with this filthy stuff! If he can even let out half a fart from this pile of filth, I'll twist my head off and use it as a chamber pot!"

Lord Ying spoke with great passion, vividly describing the filth. Even Shi Wengong and Wu Song, two upright and indomitable heroes who remained unfazed even when facing death, felt a stench of swill mixed with rust assaulting their senses just by listening!

The two men, who were as tall as iron towers, involuntarily shrank by three inches, felt a churning in their stomachs, and their faces turned somewhat pale.

The two exchanged a glance, both remaining silent. As their nostrils flared, they seemed to truly smell the nauseating stench!

After listening, the official gave Shi Wengong and Wu Song detailed instructions to ensure everything was done properly. Then he nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "Very good. You two go and make the arrangements. Make sure it is done secretly and thoroughly. Report to me immediately if there is any unusual activity."

The three accepted the order and went their separate ways.

With the arrangements complete, the high-ranking official straightened his clothes and strolled out of the front hall towards the back courtyard. It was nearly the afternoon of the winter solstice, and although the light was bright, a chill lingered in the air. There, he saw Yue Niang, Jin Lian'er, Xiang Ling'er, Gui Jie'er, and Meng Yulou, all dressed in their finest attire, waiting for him under the eaves, ready to go together to the ancestral graves outside the city's west gate to pay respects to their ancestors.

"My lord has arrived." Upon seeing him, Yue Niang hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, her face displaying the solemnity of a mistress. The other concubines also curtsied in greeting.

"Well, it's good that everyone's here. Don't be late." The official's gaze swept over everyone, his expression calm, and he said nothing more.

The group boarded the spacious and magnificent blue-draped carriage, and with the clatter of hooves, they drove out of Qinghe County.

The carriage was filled with the scent of incense from the heater, and the women whispered among themselves. The official, however, closed his eyes to rest, still pondering the matter of Gongsun Sheng and the birthday gifts.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the ancestral cemetery of the Ximen family. The high official alighted first, and upon looking around, he couldn't help but pause slightly. The scene here was completely different from what he remembered!
The area around the grave, which had previously been filled with miscellaneous trees, weeds, rocks, and earthen mounds, had been completely cleared away, creating a large, flat area.

The area was surrounded by a low wall of blue bricks about half a person's height, and inside the wall, pine, cypress and holly trees were planted everywhere, which were still green despite the cold winter.

Even more remarkably, near the tomb, a small and exquisite pavilion had been built, its eaves and brackets still freshly painted. Beside the pavilion, a stream of water flowed, and several exquisite rocks were piled up, creating a small garden scene.

Seeing his hesitant gaze, Yue Niang stepped forward and said gently, "My lord, a few days ago you were bestowed the title of Academician of the Imperial Academy by the Emperor. I thought it best to inform our ancestors of this good news. However, after arriving here, I felt sorry for them and decided to have this place tidied up a bit. We cut down some unsightly trees, cleared the weeds, and built a small pavilion for resting and sheltering from the rain, so that you would have a quiet place to sit during the seasonal sacrifices. I wonder... what do you think, my lord?"

The official's gaze fell on Yue Niang's face, and he patted her cheek with approval: "Hmm, you've put your heart into it, and you've taken good care of yourself. If our ancestors knew this in the afterlife, they would be pleased."

Having said that, he straightened his clothes and led the women forward. Incense, candles, paper horses, sacrificial animals, and fruits had already been prepared by the servants and were displayed on the offering table in front of the tomb.

The high-ranking official personally lit incense and bowed respectfully before the tombstone of the Ximen family's ancestors. As the incense smoke curled and ashes flew, he murmured prayers, simply asking his ancestors to bless his family with peace and prosperity.

But as he bowed and kowtowed, no one saw a faint glimmer of indifference flash in the depths of his eyes. He thought to himself, "Ancestors of the Ximen family... Today, since I have borrowed your family's name and incense offerings, I sincerely pay my respects and offer some incense and blood offerings. This can be considered as repaying this karmic debt."

After the sacrificial ceremony, everyone boarded their vehicles and returned home.

Back at the mansion, Yue Niang greeted him with a thick stack of gift lists: "My lord, the gifts sent by various government offices, shops, and relatives and friends over the past few days and today, the Winter Solstice, have all been registered. Please take a look."

The official carefully examined the gift list by the light from under the porch. He saw a wide variety of items: silks, furs, mountain delicacies, seafood, gold and silver utensils, seasonal fruits... a diverse and colorful array.

Moon Lady whispered to the man, "My lord, if all these items were converted into cash, they would probably be worth no less than a thousand taels of silver."

The official nodded slightly, but there was little joy on his face.

Yue Niang continued, "However, the expenses for entertaining guests these days, hiring musicians, ancestral worship, managing the household, and preparing the evening family banquet have been considerable. I just checked the accounts with the treasury, and the silver currently stored in the treasury, plus what my husband brought back a few days ago, totals a little over four thousand taels."

"However, it should be more than enough to cover all the expenses and social obligations during the holidays. Once the New Year is over and the shops are back in business, I will finally feel at ease and no longer anxious."

As Yue Niang spoke, a reassuring smile, characteristic of a shrewd and calculating matriarch, appeared on her fair, oval face.

The official listened and thought to himself, "Four thousand taels? You think you're safe now? Moon Lady, if you knew that there were another hundred thousand taels of illicit silver buried deep in the cellar... you'd probably be so panicked that you wouldn't even be able to move the abacus beads properly, and you'd faint!"

But this time.

Unexpectedly, Yue Niang seemed to have thought of something and knelt down on the cold floor tiles with a thud. The sound startled the official, who frowned and said, "My Yue Niang! What's going on now? Why are you kneeling again? Get up! The ground is cold; you'll hurt yourself!"

Moon Lady did not rise, but lowered her head even further, revealing a section of her fair neck. The plump, white flesh inside her collar, along with the trembling gold and kingfisher feather butterfly hairpin at her temple, reflected the candlelight.

Her voice was soft and slightly choked, yet she forced herself to speak: "My lord, please calm down... It was I... I was confused for a moment and acted on my own, disposing of a... a gift that was sent in from outside. I didn't inform you beforehand, it's truly a sin, I beg you to forgive me this time..."

She paused there, gently biting her lower lip with her pearly teeth, her gaze lingering on the pattern of the floor tiles. Her hesitant expression perfectly captured the look of someone who was hiding something, feeling both fearful and ashamed.

Seeing her like this, and hearing the words "made decisions on his own" and "dispose of gifts," the man's nameless anger subsided by a third, and he was instead aroused with great curiosity.

He leaned forward slightly, gesturing for her to rise, his voice softening but still inquisitive: "Oh? A gift? What rare thing could possibly warrant such a reaction? Get up and speak, or your knees will hurt. What is it?"

Moon Lady remained meek and dared not rise, much less look directly at the Master.

She twisted the plain white handkerchief in her hand, her voice growing even lower: "It was... a servant who played the zither..."

She quickly glanced at the official's face, and seeing that he only frowned slightly and showed no signs of thunderous anger, she mustered a little courage, but her voice trembled violently:
"I thought it was too frivolous and improper. I also thought that since you are of such high status, it would be strange for you to accept such... such symbolic items. So... I took it upon myself to have someone... recommend me to work as an embroiderer at a silk shop."

The official laughed loudly upon hearing this:

"Haha! I thought it was some earth-shattering event! Your husband," he glanced sideways at Yue Niang, a hint of intimacy in his eyes, "has never been into that sort of thing. You can dispose of it as you see fit, so it won't make a mess at home!"

He waved his hand dismissively, but then took a half-step forward, his hot breath almost hitting Yue Niang's ear. He lowered his voice, his tone hot and hoarse: "However... if you act on your own, you can't escape the 'family rules.' You'll definitely be 'punished' properly this time!"

“Since you’re already kneeling,” the official laughed, “then… I’ll punish you by making you kneel and do kneeling-related things.”

Moon Lady's face was already flushed with shyness. When she heard the word "punishment" again, and saw the familiar, heart-burning flame in his eyes, she understood what this "punishment" meant. Instantly, her face, which had been pale with tension, flushed with a deep rosy blush.

Her moist, diamond-shaped lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but shyness held her back. Yet, she exuded a mature and alluring charm. Even the gold and kingfisher feather hairpin in her hair slid down a little as her delicate body trembled, adding to her languid and flirtatious air.

“Yes… my lord…” Yue Niang’s voice trembled.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, half from the unspeakable shame, and the other half from the gripping fear. She glanced quickly at the doorway with its beaded curtain, silently praying, "Heavens above! Those little hussies, Jinlian and Guijie, please don't barge in and cause a scene at this critical moment!"

into the night.

The main room of the Ximen mansion was warm and cozy. The glowing red charcoal crackled and popped in the copper incense burner, and the underfloor heating system was working hard to dispel the biting cold of the deep winter.

A large round table made of nanmu wood was placed in the center. Wu Yueniang sat in the main seat, the official was on the left, and on the right were Pan Jinlian, Li Guijie, Xiang Ling'er, Meng Yulou and several others. The maids stood by, serving wine and dishes.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of delicacies for the Winter Solstice, steaming hot and fragrant:

Among them is a large steamed sea bass, with emerald green cabbage placed underneath its body;
A pot of mutton stew with radish, the soup is milky white and sprinkled with bright green coriander, is a perfect dish to ward off the cold on the winter solstice;
A plate of crystal-clear frozen fish sashimi, sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings, served with a dipping sauce of ginger and vinegar;

A plate of glistening, fragrant roasted quail;
A plate of crab-stuffed oranges, the aroma of oranges mixed with the freshness of crab, is incredibly tempting;
Other seasonal dishes include: stir-fried winter bamboo shoots and "golden stewed jade" (fried tofu and vegetable soup);
The dim sum consisted of honey-fried carved fruit and ghee-fried abalone, both with a sweet and fragrant aroma.

The wine was warm Jinhua wine, served in a Ding kiln white-glazed ewer.

The official raised his cup and laughed, "Today is the Winter Solstice, which is as important as the New Year. It's a family meal, so don't be shy, eat as much as you like and enjoy the lively atmosphere!" He first put a piece of tender fish belly meat on Yue Niang's chopsticks, and then invited everyone else to join in.

Pan Jinlian, Li Guijie, and Xiangling'er were already used to sitting at the same table. Although they didn't dare to be too presumptuous, after hearing what the master said, they gradually became bolder and reached out their chopsticks to pick up the dishes they liked, eating with great relish.

The only newcomer, Meng Yulou, sat meekly at the very bottom of the table, only daring to shovel small bites of white rice into her bowl and occasionally pick up a piece of the simmered delicacies in front of her. She absolutely dared not reach for the good dishes placed in the center, her knuckles turning slightly white from gripping the chopsticks so tightly.

The official, observing this, focused his gaze on Meng Yulou. Suddenly remembering something, he put down his wine cup and asked, "Yulou, is there any progress on that 'thing' I asked you to make the other day?"

Meng Yulou was caught off guard by being called out by name. Startled, he almost dropped his chopsticks. He hurriedly stood up, bowed his head respectfully, and replied, "Replying to your question, sir, it will be done soon. It will be ready in the next few days. I dare not delay your business."

The official was overjoyed upon hearing this, a smile spreading across his face. He waved his hand and said, "Good, good! Sit down, sit down quickly! I told you it's a family banquet, no need for so many formalities!"

Seeing that Meng Yulou was still reserved, he personally took a piece of the fattest, most tender, and fragrant roasted leg meat from the plate of oily roasted quail in front of him and placed it steadily into the small white porcelain dish in front of Meng Yulou. "Here, try this. It's roasted just right."

This pinch really stirred up a hornet's nest.

Pan Jinlian, who was eating abalone with ghee next to her, immediately pouted upon seeing this. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with jealousy and coquettishness as she drawled, "Oh, my lord—! I'm also really craving this quail meat!"

She leaned slightly towards the master, her voice sweet and cloying, "The ones you serve taste better, sir. The ones I serve myself just don't taste the same!"

(End of this chapter)