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

Chapter 51 A Chaotic Dance of Demons at the Lichun Courtyard

Baochai parted her red lips slightly, swallowed another mouthful, and immediately felt a sweet and refreshing sensation penetrate her lungs. The warm soup slid down her throat, seemingly soothing away some of the bitterness in her heart.

The grievances and sorrow in my heart, like ice meeting the sun in spring, quietly melted away a third of their depth. It was not a genuine soothing of the soul, but rather a sudden stirring of ripples in the still lake of my heart, which had been dormant for over a decade.

This pear soup isn't just for nourishing my lungs; it's clearly designed to seduce my daughter's soul!

Since I was old enough to understand things, I have been learning traditional women's education, needlework, accounting, playing the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, and I am well-versed in all schools of thought. Yet, I have never felt so relaxed and at ease.

There's no need to put on a serious demeanor, no need to consider the rules, no need to calculate the gains and losses of the family business; just savor the flavor in this bowl.

Gazing at the fist-sized, sweet-white porcelain bowl, the soup inside was dwindling, and I wished the bowl were bigger. Spoon after spoonful, I craved this moment of tenderness, and almost wanted to teach him to keep feeding me like this forever!

Just as my heart was churning with emotion, I suddenly saw Madam Xue hurriedly lift the curtain and enter, her hair disheveled and her golden hairpins swaying precariously.

She grabbed Ximen Qing's sleeve: "My benefactor, have mercy on me! Take a look! That wretched boy has gone to some brothel called Lichun in Qinghe County to drink and carouse!"

He pleaded, "Our Xue family is unfamiliar with this place. If we run into those old and young again and cause the same trouble as during the day, what will become of the Xue family's only son?"

Master Ximen gently helped Madam Xue up, saying, "Madam, don't worry! Brother Pan is young, and it's understandable that he's a little playful. Please relax and wait in the house, have some hot tea to warm yourself up. I'll go find him right away!"

A fantastic opportunity!!

Ximen was overjoyed. He handed the bowl and spoon in his hand to Madam Xue and turned to leave.

Little did he know that this unintentional act would hurt the feelings of another young girl.

Xue Baochai was just about to see this important official leave without even saying hello. Although her dignified and composed face remained tense, her slender fingers had already tightly twisted the handkerchief under the quilt. Seeing her mother still nagging about her brother's faults, she suddenly felt suffocated in the room.

Ximen Da Guanren went out and asked the maid for directions to Xue Pan. After confirming that it was Lichun Courtyard, he took the chrysanthemum-colored horse brought by the Xue family servant, pulled on the reins, waved the gold-flecked fan, and walked on all fours to the black lacquered gate of Lichun Courtyard.

Sure enough, under the two large red lanterns, a fat figure was rubbing his hands and pacing around next to the stone lion, gazing longingly inside.

Xue Pan, dressed in a lychee-colored silk robe, his forehead glistening with sweat, rushed forward as if he had found a treasure when he saw Ximen Qing, grabbing his sleeve and exclaiming:

"It's you!! Master Ximen? Heaven have mercy! Master Ximen, you are truly a savior descended from heaven! My mother was rushing me so fast that I even left my money pouch inside. Dear brother, please save me again. I'll lend you some money to use for now, and I'll repay you double tomorrow and send it to your mansion!" As he spoke, his eyes had already darted to the commotion in the courtyard, and he swallowed hard.

Ximen Qing didn't take out any money, but instead glanced at the lavish tent. He saw Ying Bojue drinking and waiting with a girl in his arms, just as he had ordered. He then laughed loudly, "Why not enjoy yourself with others? Now that I've taken over my territory, I'll show you the skills of the young men from Qinghe County!"

He patted Xue Pan on the shoulder and led him inside. When Ying Er Mazi saw Ximen Da Guanren enter, he hurriedly rolled over and shouted, "Big Brother!"

The official whispered a few words in his ear, but then Earl Ying grinned so hard his pockmarked face split open and he disappeared in a flash.

Before half a cup of tea could be brewed, a deafening commotion erupted at the entrance, and Xie Xida, Zhu Shinian, Hua Zixu, and others surged in in a chaotic rush. These idle playboys from Qinghe County completely blocked the entrance to the Lichun Courtyard.

The madam hurriedly ordered the original banquet to be cleared away and three interconnected superior rooms to be opened, where a large round table inlaid with mother-of-pearl was set out. First, four servants in green robes brought over flower-shaped teapots and porcelain cups, followed by a dozen or so courtesans who filed in, dressed in light red silk jackets with matching collars, and bowed profusely on the ground, saying in sweet voices, "Greetings to all the gentlemen!"

He then said to Master Ximen, "Li Jiao'er has brought some things with her today and dares not come out to greet you, lest she offend our distinguished guest." Ximen Qing waved his hand dismissively.

I just don't want to see that woman, so she won't ask me when I'm going to marry her again!
Xue Pan had a silver-faced beauty wrapped around his left arm and a melon-seed-faced beauty wrapped around his right arm. In front of him were more than a dozen dishes of seasonal delicacies, such as pickled goose feet, roasted venison, and fried snails.

One of the girls, dressed in a pomegranate-red dress, was the most clever. She first filled the glass to the brim and then whispered in Xue Pan's ear, "Few people can be the honored guests of our Uncle Ximen of Qinghe County. Today, Master Xue is the host, so we must drink two cups!"

Xue Pan was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Good! Good! Your master and I are like brothers! Today we are having a good time, so come and drink with me!"

Zhu Shinian slammed his fist on the table and egged them on, saying, "They should be fed to him mouth to mouth!" The group of female fans then chuckled and took a small sip, then started pouring wine mouth to mouth. Xue Pan, who had become fat and bloated from drinking, ended up with his mouth covered in rouge.

Suddenly, Ying Bojue magically produced a purple bamboo flute and began playing the tune "Nao Wugeng" (闹五更), while Xie Xida struck his ivory clappers in response.

The two girls untied their silk sashes and handkerchiefs, and danced the Heavenly Demon Dance with their arms and legs bare, their gauze skirts fluttering.

Xue Pan, his eyes gleaming with excitement, clapped his hands and laughed, "Wonderful! Wonderful! I've never seen anything so delightful at home!" He then threw a flower-patterned handkerchief over the dancer's head, shouting that he wanted to imitate some kind of "butterfly flitting through flowers" pose. Amidst the laughter of the entire audience, they all drank another round of wine.

Amidst the sound of strings, a woman with a silver-plated face and a pretty face fed Xue Pan candied oranges, while another woman with an oval face held wine in her cup, wanting him to taste it.

This fool took a bite of rouge with his left hand and smacked his tongue with his right, so happy that he forgot himself. He then grabbed the bare jade foot of some unknown courtesan and said, "Your feet are so delicate. Let me smell them."

At this moment, Hua Zixu slapped the table and laughed, "Speaking of golden lotuses playing with cups, our Lichun Courtyard does have a top courtesan, whose feet are exceptionally delicate." After saying this, he called out to the outside of the curtain, "Please invite Miss Yunxiang to greet our guest!"

A moment later, a woman dressed in a moon-white silk robe with delicate hair gracefully entered. She indeed had a pair of slender feet and wore bright red high-soled shoes with gold accents.

Earl Ying jeered, “Yunxiang, let Master Xue see your beautiful feet!”

The woman, with a shy smile, gently removed her embroidered shoes, revealing a fair and delicate foot. Though far from being as exquisite as Pan Jinlian's, it was still small and lovely.

Xue Pan stared, wide-eyed, and exclaimed repeatedly, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Those feet are beautiful!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhu Shinian said, "Why don't we play a drinking game called 'Golden Lotus Shoe Cup'?" He immediately ordered someone to bring a set of blue and white porcelain cups and place them inside Yunxiang Bow Shoes.

Xie Xida sang while tapping his ivory clappers: "The first cup, a shoe cup of wine, I urge you not to begrudge your pockets!"

Yunxiang, with a delicate and charming demeanor, held the shoe-shaped cup to Xue Pan's lips. Xue Pan drank a cup with the beautiful Jinlian, finding the aroma of wine mixed with the scent of cosmetics exceptionally intoxicating.

Earl Ying then exclaimed, "For the second cup, I want a 'Lotus Blossoms with Every Step' challenge! After Master Xue drinks this cup, he must recite a line of poetry containing the word 'lotus'!"

Xue Pan racked his brains and suddenly slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "I've got it! 'The lotus is beautiful, the toad is big, and it croaks!'" Everyone looked at each other in surprise, not expecting such a talented person, but their expressions remained unchanged. They cheered in unison and forced him to drink three more cups.

If this drinking game continues, I'm afraid everyone will lose their composure!
Earl Ying clapped his hands and laughed, "This way of drinking is too refined! In our Qinghe County, we have a vulgar way of drinking—'Golden Lotus Crossing Wine'!"

[Dear readers, it's not that I'm not updating more frequently, it's just that if the word count goes too high, I'll be kicked out of the new book recommendation list. I'll definitely update more frequently after it's released! The new moon starts on Monday, September 1st, so please give me your monthly tickets and read my posts to help me get on the new book chart!]

(End of this chapter)