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

Chapter 41 Golden Lotus Reveals True Feelings

Ximen Da Guanren smiled slightly, pondered for a moment, and tapped his knuckles lightly on the table: "Very good, let's do it this way. Prepare four boxes of official bird's nest and four packets of white bird's nest, packaged in brocade boxes, and say it's just a simple gift for the women in the household to regulate their qi and blood. Also, seal two hundred taels of official silver ingots, wrap them securely in red silk, and place them at the bottom of the gift box."

"It appears elegant on the surface, but it's substantial underneath. I'm sure Steward Zhai is a shrewd man and will weigh the implications. Let's not send the rare ginseng; save a piece for Grand Tutor Cai."

Yue Niang understood immediately and nodded, saying, "My lord's considerations are thorough."

Master Ximen stood up and looked out the window: "All items should be packed in black gift boxes with gold trim, to show their importance. Instruct Laibao to prepare a large blue mule cart, and select four reliable servants to escort it. We should depart in the next couple of days."

He turned to look at Yue Niang: "This matter concerns the foundation of the Ximen family and cannot be lost. Since I, your husband, am climbing up the social ladder, I must be careful. Otherwise, the higher I climb, the harder I will fall!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Niang felt somewhat worried, but the thought of why her husband wouldn't prefer a peaceful and worry-free life flashed through her mind.

Yet he still solemnly agreed: "I will certainly take care of it myself, but Lai Bao is still managing the soup kitchen outside the city. As instructed by the master, fifty bushels of old rice are distributed every day. The porridge is so thick that chopsticks can stand upright in it. The kitchen opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm. He goes out with the cart before dawn, which is quite diligent!"

After pausing, he added, "Unlike before, although you are reliable in handling matters, you sometimes shirk your duties and try to cheat."

Ximen Da Guanren naturally knew it was thanks to the previous reprimand. Lai Bao was never an easy person to deal with. He sneered, "If a monkey doesn't climb the pole, you have to keep banging the gong! He was taught a lesson the other day, so naturally he's on his guard."

"I'm afraid that in a few days, when the skin and flesh loosen up, the old ailment will recur, and I'll have to whip it from time to time before it will move its hooves forward!"

Moon Lady lowered her eyes and remained silent, then said in a low voice, "The meal has been set out. Would you like to have some, my lord?"

"Alright!" Ximen Qing flicked his sleeves and walked into the hall.

On the black lacquered octagonal table, there were four cold dishes, four hot dishes, and a pot of Jinhua wine.

He picked up the ebony chopsticks inlaid with silver, poked a piece of shad belly meat, and chewed it slowly.

Suddenly remembering something, he paused his chopsticks in mid-air: "Oh right, send some to Jinlian in my room. She's not feeling well after I beat her up yesterday."

Wu Yueniang was serving him food and didn't ask why he hit her. She said gently, "Don't worry, my lord. Seeing that she wasn't following behind to serve you, I had already instructed the kitchen to prepare a portion, which I just had Yuxiao deliver."

Inside the main room of the courtyard at this time.

Jinlian lay face down on the canopy bed, the brocade quilt only covering her waist, revealing half of her snow-white body covered with various purple and blue bruises.

My hips and legs are sore and my whole body is numb; I've realized that happiness can also be tiring!

Now I finally have the time to look around my master's room.

The house has five rooms and seven bays, with carved beams and painted rafters.

The rosewood canopy bed is carved with intertwined lotus and twin peonies, and outlined with gold lacquer, making it dazzling to the eye.

A rosewood dressing table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and a bronze mirror with a rhombus pattern so large that one can see their whole body.

There were ivory combs, rhinoceros horn combs, and a row of gilded porcelain boxes, containing some kind of perfume, and a scarlet felt from the Western Regions was laid on the ground.

The display cabinet was even more impressive, filled with jade carvings, jadeite ornaments, agate figurines, and small gold incense burners.

This is wealth and status!
If there's anything I'm still not satisfied with, it's that I want to gain official recognition as soon as possible!

Be the proper mistress of this house!
Until then.

Several maids were serving him, and he was too lazy to even move his hands and feet.

I just want someone to take my breath for me!

I'd like to get another snow-white long-haired cat, which will spend all day curled up on the incense burner and purring... Thinking of this...

She buried her face in the brocade quilt and took a deep breath—the ambergris mixed with the lingering scent of the man made her heart flutter.

Last night, madness surged through my mind; my handsome and wicked new master, his body as hard as iron.

But what truly made her heart tremble was the gentleness beneath the brute force.

She vividly remembered how her master had pulled a soft pillow over last night and placed it under her sweaty lower back, saying in a hoarse voice, "Keep it under! So your back won't ache tomorrow!"

The movements were rough, yet they conveyed a strange sense of tenderness.

As the night drew to a close, she vaguely felt the brocade quilt being gently tugged. It turned out that her mistress, half-asleep, had pulled the quilt, which had slipped off, towards her bare shoulders!
His palms were burning hot as they brushed against her icy skin, sending a shiver down her spine!
Good heavens, this cruel gentleness is nothing like the ruthless Yama who enforced family laws yesterday.
He's just like the real man from countless spring dreams!
What captivated her most was the time when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

He woke up in pain and couldn't help but hiss.

The master beside her also woke up, frowned, lifted the quilt, and stared at the red swelling for a long time.

She thought she was going to get scolded again, but instead she saw him get out of bed, rummage through a small jade jar, scoop out a dollop of amber-colored ointment, and roughly apply it to her wound.

The ointment felt cool, but her fingertips were burning hot, making her feel weak all over.

He cursed under his breath: "You little slut! If you pull this trick again, I'll beat you to a pulp!"

The pressure applied to the hand while applying the medicine was noticeably light, almost tingling!

After finishing, I carefully covered the wound with a blanket.

As Pan Jinlian pondered, her body grew hot again, and she bit her lower lip.

Good heavens! How can there be such a caring master!

This man was like a red-hot knife, stabbing her until her skin was torn and bleeding, yet the blade was coated with honey.

It was both painful and sweet.

This feeling makes all the wealth in the room seem insignificant.

In a trance.

I hope this man is just an ordinary guy.

All I had was a room, a bed, and myself.

That's more than enough!
Just as he was lost in thought, the curtain suddenly rustled!
Pan Jinlian hurriedly pulled the quilt to cover herself, only to see Yu Xiao carrying in a food box.

Upon seeing her naked and lying on Ximen Qing's pillow, Yu Xiao couldn't help but sneer inwardly!

She wouldn't even dare touch this bed normally, yet this lowly maid dared to defile it!

Suppressing her jealousy, she slammed the food box on the table with a thud: "Jinlian, time to eat!"

Her voice was shrill and piercing.

Pan Jinlian, having also struggled through hardship, possessed an exceptionally keen ability to discern words and thoughts.

(End of this chapter)