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

Chapter 74 Discussing the General Trends of the World
With a wave of his hand, Ximen Qing sealed Chen An's fate.

In the Buddhist hall, Yue Niang's words sealed Yu Xiao's fate for the rest of his life.

One word for life, one word for death.

This power is the ink on the judge's pen, the lifespan recorded in the Book of Life and Death!
This power is like a final pronouncement before the King of Hell, which you can't change no matter how much you kneel and cry your heart out!
After three rounds of drinks in the front hall, the dishes were changed five times.

On one side, Ximen Da Guanren was radiant with health, Zhou Tong had white hair and beard but was still vigorous, and the young Yue Fei listened respectfully with his head bowed, occasionally asking questions and interjecting.

Although the three men had different complexions, they were all about 70% drunk.

They chatted about everything under the sun, from the north to the south. Zhou Tong was knowledgeable and experienced, and he spoke eloquently about anecdotes from the martial arts world and martial arts skills.

Although Ximen Qing was not as good at drinking as the two heroes opposite him, his experience and foresight were naturally superior to theirs.

Although Yue Fei was young, he occasionally chimed in with his own insights.

When Zhou Tong spoke of the scenery and customs of the north, he marveled at the skill of the Jurchen cavalry and archery, which made it difficult for the border troops to cope.

Ximen Qing hiccuped, already somewhat drunk, and put down his wine cup: "Master is absolutely right. The north is bitterly cold, and its people are fierce. The Jurchens have grown up on horseback since childhood, and their skill in archery and horsemanship is fundamental. However, the strength of a nation does not lie solely in the bravery of a single soldier."

"Having traveled between the north and south as a merchant, I have some observations. The north appears militarily strong, but in reality, tribal conflicts persist, and the powerful and wealthy indulge in comfort, so their foundations are not necessarily secure. As for our dynasty, although it is prosperous, it has enjoyed peace for a long time, resulting in lax military preparedness, and further compounded by... cough."

He shook his groggy head and paused: "Moreover, extravagance is rampant at all levels, and the administration... well, the problems are deeply entrenched. With this imbalance, the worries in the northern frontier are not just temporary or localized troubles, but a sign of a major threat. If we cannot be prepared for danger in times of peace and make a firm decision to rectify internal affairs and strengthen the military, the future situation will likely be difficult."

The breadth of vision and the calm and thoroughness of analysis in these words far surpassed those of the chivalrous figures or local officials that Zhou Tong usually encountered.

Zhou Tong stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming, and secretly praised him: "I never expected that my nominal apprentice, whom I took in out of the way, would have such profound insight! He is not limited to the benefits of weapons, but also sees through the rise and fall of national power and the loyalty of the people. This vision and perspective are not like those of an ordinary wealthy merchant. He seems more like... more like a patriotic official in the imperial court! There is such a generous person right under the emperor's nose."

His opinion of Ximen Qing instantly rose to a higher level, and he began to think that this nominal disciple was capable of truly passing on his skills.

Before he could finish speaking, the effects of the alcohol finally took hold. The official swayed slightly, mumbled something indistinct to everyone, and then collapsed drunk at the table, unable to get up.

Just then, Yue Niang returned, preoccupied with her own thoughts. Seeing the situation, she quickly instructed a servant to escort the old man and the young woman back to their room to rest.

He then said to Xiaoyu, "Go to the stove and bring over that bowl of warm calamus soup to help you sober up." Finally, he called out, "Two more people, bring a hot towel and a basin of water, and wipe the master's face to wake him up!"

Xiangling was standing to the side when she heard the instructions to get a towel and a basin of water, and she instinctively reached out to fetch them. The moment she moved, a gaze was fixed on her!

It was Pan Jinlian!
Jinlian had been keeping a close eye on the new maid out of the corner of her eye. Seeing her slender figure, her waist so thin it could be encircled by a single hand, and her meek, demure posture, she resembled a delicate, trembling white lotus flower. Especially the natural, alluring melancholy in her eyes and brows stirred a pang of sadness in Pan Jinlian's heart!
She was eagerly anticipating her husband's return to tenderness, hoping to solidify their relationship. Who knew that in the blink of an eye, this delicate, bookish maid would appear! Her master had even placed her in the study, clearly showing he cared! This was outrageous! Xiangling hesitated slightly upon seeing her, but Jinlian quickly rushed to serve her the dish first.

The Moon Maiden was preparing a bowl of calamus soup to help with hangovers, and she gestured for her to wipe herself down. As a maidservant in the inner chambers, this was something she was supposed to do.

Pan Jinlian, carrying a steaming hot towel, swayed her lithe waist and approached the drunken Ximen Qing. She glanced triumphantly at Xiangling, then unfolded the warm, soft towel, cupped it in her delicate hands, and began to gently wipe the man's neck and cheeks.

Her movements were extremely light and gentle, her phoenix eyes lowered, her gaze fixed on Ximen Qing's slightly parted, thick lips and bobbing Adam's apple, as if she were dazzled by honey.

She wiped him with extreme focus, her body getting closer and closer, her full breasts pressing tightly against Ximen Qing's arm through her thin shirt, as if she wanted to use her warm, soft body to firmly wrap around her drunken man.

Once Ximen Qing's drunkenness had subsided and his mind had cleared somewhat, Yue Niang gave him a wink, sending Xiangling and Jinlian away. She then went to the outer room and slammed the hall door shut. Turning around, she hurried back to Ximen Qing, and without regard for the cold floor, knelt down with a thud.
"My lord!" Yue Niang's voice trembled with tears as she bowed her head deeply. "I deserve to die! I have come to beg for forgiveness from my lord!"

Ximen Qing shook his still somewhat dizzy head and laughed, "Why should an old married couple like us go to such lengths!"

Yue Niang's shoulders trembled slightly as she said with fear and self-reproach, "It's all my fault for managing the household poorly and failing to discipline her properly! I let that shameless little hussy Yu Xiao do such a disgraceful thing! These lawless servants have completely disgraced the Ximen family!"

She paused, stealing a glance at Ximen Qing's face. Seeing that he remained expressionless, she continued cautiously, her voice trembling with tears, "After such a disgraceful incident, one would think she should be beaten to death! But... but Yuxiao is, after all, a woman who served in the household. Although she was just a maid, she was still connected to the Ximen family. If she's sold to a slave trader, what if... what if she's unlucky and ends up being sold to some low-class brothel..."

Yue Niang lowered her voice even further, with a deliberate worry in her voice, "If in the future, some gossipy people find out the truth and say something like 'He slept with the head maid of Master Ximen's mansion'... such words will ultimately bring bad luck to the Ximen family and disrupt their fortune."

She took a breath and continued, "I took it upon myself to drag that shameless woman to the back, strip her naked, and give her twenty lashes! I beat her until her skin was torn and she was screaming like a banshee! Now she's been demoted to the kitchen, to be a night maid who does the work of stoking the fire, chopping wood, and emptying chamber pots! Letting her suffer that filth every day is a form of atonement! My lord... what do you think... is this arrangement acceptable?"

After listening, the official looked at Yue Niang and asked, "Is it over?"

"There's more." Yue Niang prostrated herself on the ground: "I have my own selfish reasons. After all, Yu Xiao is my personal maid who came with me. If she is entertaining customers in that brothel day and night, how will I establish my authority in the inner courtyard in the future? How will I be able to control those second and third wives later on?"

Her kneeling, prostrate posture held a silent allure that went beyond mere submissiveness. Unable to see Yue Niang's lowered face, one could only perceive a trembling expanse of her smooth, full neck. Beneath the fabric, slightly stretched taut from her bowed posture...

The official strode over to Yue Niang, reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her up from the ground.

“You’re right! It’s not worth tarnishing my reputation as Ximen Qing over such a dirty matter! Let her suffer a bit and learn her lesson! You handled this matter well!” He patted Yue Niang’s hand, which was his way of acknowledging her.

A huge weight lifted from Yue Niang's heart, and she finally managed a smile, nestling close to Ximen Qing: "Thank you, my lord..."

But with a gasp, he was swept up in his arms and carried into the inner room: "We are husband and wife, there's no need for thanks."

(End of this chapter)