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

Chapter 87 He had the desire to steal but lacked the courage.
In the candlelight, the vermilion seal looked eerily red, like two tightly bound talismans.

"I'll just... I'll pry open a crack and take out a few ingots to tide me over..." His heart pounded as he tried to find an excuse for himself, "Anyway... anyway, when the family property is divided, I'll get a share... I... I'll take some to tide me over first, and later... later I'll secretly make up for it, without anyone knowing..."

The thought arose, and the silver seemed to gain warmth, burning his hand even through the box. His courage seemed to grow a little bolder. He gritted his teeth and pulled a wrist-cleaver he usually toyed with from his boot. He brought it close to the brass lock, the blade against the spring, but his hand trembled violently, slipping away several times.

"call--!"

A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, causing the candlelight to flicker and the shadows to sway wildly. The long shadow of Hua Zixu on the wall also twisted and swayed violently, like a ghostly figure baring its fangs and claws.

Hua Zixu was so frightened that his hand trembled, and the sharp knife fell to the ground with a clang. The sound exploded in the dead silence, shaking him to his core.

He collapsed to the ground with a thud, his back pressed tightly against the cold wall, panting heavily, his whole body trembling violently. The old eunuch Hua's cloudy yet sharp eyes were fixed coldly on him through the coffin. The entire room seemed to groan, as if saying, "You scoundrel! This is the lifeblood of the entire clan! To touch it is an insult to our ancestors! An insult to the authorities! How dare you even think of taking it?!"

Cold sweat streamed down his temples, instantly soaking his inner garment, clinging to his body, icy and bone-chilling. In his daze, Hua Zixu could already see the silver bearing the "Hua Mark" flowing out, being recognized, and being reported to the authorities; the fury and curses of the elders of the Hua family upon hearing the news; being removed from the family register, being swept out of the house... imprisonment was imminent!
"Enough! Enough! Enough!" Hua Zixu suddenly closed his eyes, his hands gripping the front of his clothes tightly. The spark ignited by greed was instantly extinguished by this bone-chilling fear.

He returned to the hall with dark circles under his eyes, his gaze sweeping around before finally settling on a pair of large blue-and-white porcelain vases with lotus scrolls on the long table in the main hall. These vases were quite valuable.

"Damn it! A living person can't be killed by holding their pee, can they? I dare not touch the big one, but I dare not take the small one? I am, after all, half a master of this house." Hua Zixu gritted his teeth. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, he immediately darted back into the hall, deftly tore off a piece of old brocade, and quickly wrapped the two heavy vases together, tying a tight knot and tucking it under his arm. He slipped out the door like a thief, heading straight for the "Jubao Pawnshop" in the market.

Fu Ming returned to the Ximen mansion, panting heavily, his forehead beaded with sweat and his face showing anger.

Upon seeing the high-ranking official, he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, indicating that he had been scolded in return.

Having made up his mind to visit the capital, his furrowed brows relaxed somewhat. He temporarily set aside the matter of the high-ranking official, as there was still plenty of time before the tenth of the twelfth lunar month.

The high-ranking official was sitting in the hall, playing with his folding fan, when he heard the report: "Oh? He actually has the leisure to curse people?"

Before he could finish speaking, Dai'an lifted the curtain and came in, bowing and saying, "Father, Tianfu, the servant of Master Hua, is kowtowing outside, saying he has something important to report."

Ximen Qing nodded: "Let him in."

That day, Fu'er was led in by Dai'an, his neck hunched, trembling as he entered. He knelt down with a thud: "This humble servant, Tian Fu'er, kowtows to Master Ximen! My Fourth Master said that he has prepared a small feast at Lichun Courtyard tonight, and specially invites you, Master Ximen, to grace us with your presence for a drink and to warm us up. Fourth Master has also invited Master Ying, Master Xie, and a few other gentlemen to accompany us. Please, Master Ximen, do us the honor of attending."

Ximen Qing nodded and smiled, "Yes, I understand. Tell your second master that I will definitely come." Tianfu'er felt as if he had been granted a pardon, kowtowed deeply, and said, "Thank you for your grace, sir!" He got up and ran away in a flash.

The official turned to Fu Ming and said slowly, "Did you hear that? That scoundrel Hua Zixu insulted someone one minute and then invited them for drinks the next. The matter of the money will be settled at the dinner table tonight. You may leave." Fu Ming obediently withdrew.

As dusk approached, two large gauze lanterns were already hanging at the entrance of the Lichun Courtyard, making the three gilded characters "Lichun Courtyard" dazzlingly eye-catching. The area in front of the gate was bustling with activity, with hangers-on, brothel patrons, and prostitutes weaving through the crowd.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the back of the Lichun Courtyard was a delicate little room, which was Li Jiao'er's love nest. Li Jiao'er was originally the top courtesan in the brothel, and since being favored by the wealthy Ximen Qing, she was often kept by him.

It was late autumn, and a few withered bamboo stalks in the courtyard outside the window rustled in the west wind, adding to the desolation. Li Jiao'er wore only a silver-red silk jacket, half-open, revealing a bright green bodice embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. She lay lazily on the warm kang by the window, wringing a handkerchief in her hand, staring blankly out the window, clearly filled with a myriad of sorrows.

Just as they were at a loss for words, the curtains rustled open, bringing in a cool breeze, and a pretty young woman came in and called out, "Auntie!"

It turned out to be Sister Li Gui, who had just arrived at the courtyard. Sister Li Gui was still a virgin, but she had a graceful figure, well-proportioned body, and a plumpness that seemed to ripen early like a cucumber.

Her face was as pink as a dumpling, her lips as red as painted vermilion, and her cheeks as smooth as fresh lychees. Two arched willow-leaf eyebrows and a pair of apricot-shaped eyes full of affection, her every glance exuding charm.

She wore a light green Hangzhou silk jacket with a thin cotton lining, which tightly wrapped around her budding body, causing it to bulge slightly and create a puffy silhouette.

She wore a pale white embroidered skirt, which revealed the shape of her rounded hips as she walked. Her waist was supple, giving her a graceful, swaying gait. Her hair was loosely tied in a bun, with a jade hairpin inserted at an angle, and she held a round fan in her hand.

As the saying goes: Tender buds are covered with dew, and new lotus leaves are already fragrant as they emerge from the water.

Although she was also from a musical background and had some distant kinship with Li Jiao'er, she had not yet officially started performing. She had only been learning the skills of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, and singing in the brothel. Now, having only been in the brothel for a few days, she was already learning from the madam, Mama Li, how to flatter and please others.

Li Guijie sat down on the edge of the kang with a smile, and a sweet, cloying scent of osmanthus hair oil wafted over. She gently nudged Li Jiao'er's shoulder with a round fan, revealing a section of her fair wrist: "Why are you sitting here all alone in this chilly weather? Are you thinking about that heartless Master Ximen again? There are some wealthy guests waiting for your aunt to entertain downstairs."

Li Jiao'er snapped out of her daze, pulled her padded jacket tighter, sighed, and tossed her handkerchief onto the kang (heated brick bed): "You little slick talker! How old are you? What do you know? Men... Humph!"

(End of this chapter)