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

Chapter 99 Mutual Longing
Mrs. Lin was lost in thought.

The last few times Mrs. Lin insisted on going to the capital to attend tea parties and flower parties for those noble ladies, she was always anxious several days in advance.

He examined those few clothes stored away from the bottom of the trunk from top to bottom, afraid that some of them had pilled or that the colors were not bright enough.

She had to scrutinize herself in the bronze mirror from left to right, her heart pounding with anxiety, lest those sharp-eyed and malicious noblewomen notice even the slightest hint of her embarrassment or poverty. This honor of being a titled lady had now become a tight noose around her neck, tightening more and more each time.

On the dressing table, those exquisite jewelry boxes that were once piled high are now mostly empty—the valuable pieces have long been quietly pawned to raise money to fill the bottomless pit of her son Wang Sanguan's gambling and whoring sprees and to cope with the ever-growing deficit in the household.

The Wang family mansion, though outwardly intact, was like an old tree hollowed out by worms, teetering on the verge of collapse.

"The ancestral property... all that's left are some farms and simple shops..." Her heart ached as she pondered, "We're just living off our savings, and we can barely pay the monthly stipends... the servants are leaving, some have scattered..."

The manor can no longer afford decent maids who regularly do housework! The delicate tasks of sweeping, washing, and mending all have to be done by hiring rough women from outside.

Back then, even a pittance she managed to save was enough to feed an ordinary family for a year. Now, she had to be extremely frugal, carefully calculating even the smallest wages. This stark contrast chilled her to the bone, filling her with more fear than the scoundrel's insults. The future seemed bleak and endless.

"Waaah..." The more she thought about it, the more desperate she became. The suppressed sobs were squeezed out of her throat again, and tears fell like broken beads, mixed with her makeup, soaking a large area of ​​her silk shirt.

She hurriedly picked up a worn silk handkerchief and wiped her face haphazardly, trying to erase the messy tear stains and the overwhelming grievances and fear.

Just then, a timid knock came from outside the door, followed by an old maid's cautious voice:

"Madam...Madam, are you resting? Outside...that woman who often comes to help with laundry and mending is here. She says...she hasn't settled her wages from last time, and she's asking if there's any work in the manor that she can help with today? She...she's still waiting outside the second gate for a reply..."

This report was like the last straw, completely crushing the last shred of dignity that Mrs. Lin had been trying to maintain.

A short, mournful cry escaped her lips as she bit them hard, her eyes, which she had just wiped dry, instantly brimming with hot tears again. She clutched the soaked silk handkerchief tightly, her knuckles turning white.

As a lady of the house, she's being chased around asking for even the smallest amount of money! This mansion, this social status, has become a complete joke!

Inside the Ximen Mansion.

Ximen Da Guanren had Sun Xue'e prepare a few side dishes and drank half a cup of warm tea before instructing his servants to prepare the horse.

After leaving the mansion on Lion Street, they rode their horses towards the Wang Zhaoxuan residence.

It was early afternoon, and the autumn air was still fresh. The streets of Qinghe County were bustling with people and vehicles.

Steam billowed from the steamers of the eateries on both sides of the road, carrying the aroma of fried fruit and braised offal.

The peddlers carrying loads, the porters pushing carts, and the idle hangers-on waving fans, huddled together, their sweat and perfume mingling in a chaotic mess.

Furthermore, the windows of the brothels and pleasure houses facing the street were half-open, from which the faint sounds of stringed instruments and flirtatious laughter drifted out. The entire Qinghe County had three alleys and nine streets, including Yanhuazhai, Huayue Alley, and four other places of brothels and private prostitutes. Riding through them, one could see beautiful women everywhere, a truly bustling and extravagant worldly scene.

When they were still a shot's distance from the Prince Zhaoxuan's residence, they heard the filthy scoundrels banging bamboo clappers and their sharp, sarcastic shouts and curses coming from all directions, even more jarring than the noise of the market.

Ximen Qing reined in his horse and glanced into the distance. He saw that the group of rascals were still tightly surrounded, singing with spittle flying everywhere. He let out two low laughs, nodded in satisfaction, and thought to himself, "This rotten fruit is almost ready."

But to pick this ripe fruit, one must find someone eloquent to offer a way out and mediate.

As Ximen Da Guanren pondered the matter, he went through the list of quick-witted people in Qinghe County several times, but for a moment he couldn't think of anyone who was suitable and willing to speak for him in this filthy manner, so he couldn't help but hesitate.

It's not that those gossipy old women have bad tongues, it's just that they're too quick-witted and probably can't keep secrets.

While he was pondering, the horse's hooves had already reached the front of his own spacious and grand silk shop.

A sharp-eyed young waiter had already come forward to lead the horse. Ximen Qing dismounted, threw off the saddle, and stepped inside.

This shop was originally a top-notch luxury establishment, but it had been reduced to this state by Magistrate Li. The head accountant, Fu Ming, and the manager, Xu Zhi, were directing the tidying up and rearranging of the furnishings. Just as he had instructed the day before, they were emphasizing decoration over construction.

The gilded lacquered partitions, the newly pasted snow-white ceiling, and the gleaming nanmu counters, along with the newly made, eye-catching shelves, made the colorful silks and satins even more dazzling. Although it still had the old beams and pillars, it looked like a newly opened, lavish store!
Upon seeing his master arrive in person, Fu Ming hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and scraping, and said with a smile, "Your arrival is just in time, sir! We've been rushing around as fast as we can, and we've finally managed to get it looking presentable. Please take a look and see if it's to your liking?"

Ximen Qing put his hands behind his back, glanced around the shop, and hummed in satisfaction.

Fu Ming, observing the situation, picked up a thick ledger, opened it to a page, pointed to the densely written characters, and reported as if reciting a familiar story:
"Thanks to Your Excellency's great fortune, the warehouse currently holds various fine goods, including: twenty bolts of imperial brocade, exclusively for nobles in the capital; three hundred bolts of lustrous Lu silk; two hundred bolts of fine and soft Hangzhou satin; one hundred and fifty bolts of Shu brocade with the latest patterns; and over a thousand bolts of various Suzhou-style crepe, Huzhou raw silk, and Songjiang flying flower cloth, all of which are first-class high-end goods!"

Xu Zhi, standing to the side, also smiled and nodded in agreement.

The high-ranking official held a piece of fine Huzhou silk, his fingertips gliding over its cool, smooth texture, about to ask how much profit it could generate.

Suddenly, a sweet laugh was heard from the doorway, carrying a hint of familiar shrewdness.

"Greetings to the esteemed master!" Aunt Xue swayed in, her face full of smiles, and gave a neat curtsy.

She glanced at Ximen Qing's expression and saw that he was wearing a brand-new black robe with dark patterns and a sachet hanging from his jade belt, indicating that he was in a good mood. So she leaned closer and whispered:
"My dear sir, what do you think of that wonderful thing I mentioned to you the other day? That Lady Meng from the Jade Pavilion is truly a rare find! As the saying goes: Chang'e descended from the moon, and gold and silver emerged from the cellar! Her looks, her figure, her wealth, tsk tsk..."

Ximen Qing put down the wine cup in his hand, glanced at Aunt Xue, and a playful smile appeared on his lips: "Oh? You know how to praise. If it's so good, Aunt Xue, you must have worn your lips thin with your flattery, right?"

"Oh my goodness! This old woman swears to heaven, every word is true!" Aunt Xue slapped her thigh, laughing so hard she nearly fell over. "Isn't it a coincidence? The young lady was actually walking around in the cloth shop next door today! Isn't this a match made in heaven, with the God of Wealth leading the way?" If this isn't a marriage ordained by heaven, this old woman would have to live twenty years less.

The official raised an eyebrow: "So it seems Sister Xue knows how old she is!"

Aunt Xue laughed and said, "She was originally one hundred and twenty years old, but now, because of your marriage, sir, she can only live to be one hundred. Anyway, it's just a few steps from here. If you're interested, sir, why not take this opportunity to see her in person? Seeing is believing, isn't that better than this old woman's empty words?"

Ximen Qing's heart skipped a beat. When it came to giving gifts to the Grand Tutor, the more silver the better, like Han Xin commanding his troops: "Very well, I will go with you to see him."

After sitting down in the back room of Yang's house, Xue Sao went to call for someone.

As the curtain was lifted, what first caught Ximen Qing's eye was a pair of feet wearing plain soft satin embroidered shoes. With light, graceful steps, the toes of the shoes were slightly upturned, revealing half of the edge of a snow-white silk stocking.

Then, the lush green and golden Hunan-style skirt climbs up. What an alluring figure!

The skirt was cut tightly and neatly, cinching her slender waist, while the hem flared out.

As she swayed gently, her skirt billowed, vaguely outlining the contours of her two straight, slender, and plump legs. Though she was fully covered, the soft, trembling flesh beneath the silk exuded a seductive charm.

Ximen Qing stared intently at Meng Yulou: she was indeed beautiful, with expressive eyes and plump skin.

She stopped and gave Ximen Qing a deep bow, her voice clear and bright: "This humble servant greets Master Ximen."

Ximen Qing quickly offered a helping hand, saying, "My lady, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

Meng Yulou then sat down on a newly installed rosewood armchair on one side of the shop.

Sitting down here reveals a completely different scene. She has naturally long legs, so the armchair she sits in is much higher than the average person's, like a long bench.

Meng Yulou was also looking at the official.

This is the man I've seen recently, and I think he's incredibly handsome! His face is like jade, and his peach blossom eyes seem to hold affection even when he's not smiling. His eyes, as they move, carry a hint of wickedness and a touch of flirtatious charm. This is the kind of man who can bewitch women and make them willingly give him their money.

If this had happened ten years ago, when I was still naive and only attracted to handsome men, I would probably have been captivated by those eyes long ago, and would have been willing to offer up my life, let alone money.

(End of this chapter)