Jade Street was filled with brothels and businesses related to brothels, such as shops selling rouge and spices, wine sellers, dicine sellers, shops selling various implents, places that rented carriages and sedan chairs, and the like.
It was dayti now, and there weren’t many people on Jade Street. A few won sat by the roadside, cracking sunflower seeds while chatting and laughing, throwing the shells all over the ground.
When Yun Qing’s group passed by, those won chattered and gossiped about Jiang Baiyu and the others, covering their mouths with handkerchiefs while giggling.
Their gazes were too brazen, making Cheng Suiyan’s eyebrows twitch. Before coming here, he had been worried about Yun Qing and Fu Xue being harassed, but now it seed he should be more concerned about himself.
Soone boldly threw an orange at Jiang Baiyu. Yun Qing reached out to intercept it, caught the orange in her hand, and then passed it to her junior sister.
Jiang Baiyu smiled at her.
The group walked until they reached a lavishly decorated building. Looking up, they saw a plaque on the second floor that read “Yixiang Tower.” They had heard this was the largest and finest brothel on the entire street, so they planned to start their search at Yixiang Tower.
Inside Yixiang Tower, it was warm as spring and fragrant. The madam appeared to be in her thirties, with a seductive figure and heavy makeup.
Seeing three n and three won arrive – the n handso and the won beautiful, like immortals descending in a group – the madam felt sowhat puzzled. She cautiously approached them with a smile, saying, “Have you distinguished guests perhaps co to the wrong place?”
Cheng Suiyan didn’t even glance at her and threw a banknote in front of her.
The banknote fluttered down before her eyes. The madam caught it in one hand and examined it carefully. When she saw the amount on the note, her eyes went wide and she broke into a grin.
Cheng Suiyan said, “Bring all the won from your establishnt here.”
“Oh my, yes, yes, yes! Distinguished guests, please sit down and have so tea to warm yourselves. I’ll arrange everything right away. It’s not that I’m bragging, but the girls in our Yixiang Tower are each more tender than the last. Tsk tsk tsk, I guarantee once you see them, you won’t be able to walk away!”
“Stop babbling and go quickly.”
“Yes, yes, yes!”
The madam retreated while glancing back. Two young maidservants tactfully stepped forward and led the group to a room.
The room was decorated quite elegantly, with pearl curtains and jade hangings, and smoke-blue window gauze like distant mountains at dusk. Along the walls were arrangents of narcissus and orchids that blood in the daily warmth of the charcoal fire.
On wooden shelves sat several precious ornants, along with a pale green slender-necked vase containing a branch of blooming red plum blossoms.
In the center of the room were low tables and cushions. The group sat down at the tables, and the maidservants first brought tea.
Before long, the madam arrived with a group of won, chatting and laughing.
The madam sat beside Cheng Suiyan and tried to push his arm, but seeing this handso young man guard against her like a thief, she felt bewildered inside while maintaining her smile.
“Oh my, we have too many girls here. I’m afraid this room can’t hold them all. Let first select a few of the very best for you to look over. If you find them unsuitable, we can change them. If the girls don’t suit your taste, the Nanfeng Pavilion next door is also owned by our proprietor.”
Fu Xue interjected, “Nanfeng Pavilion?”
“Yes, the young n there are each more handso than the last – so gentle and agreeable, so playful and cute, and so robust and mighty.”
Fu Xue couldn’t help saying, “The won of ngliang City certainly know how to enjoy themselves.”
“Ha ha ha, Miss is joking. Those who patronize Nanfeng Pavilion are all n too.”
Fu Xue fell silent.
The madam quietly observed Cheng Suiyan’s expression and asked carefully, “Distinguished sir, what do you think?”
When Cheng Suiyan heard her ntion Nanfeng Pavilion, he felt as if sothing filthy had attached itself to him, giving him goosebumps all over. He said irritably, “No n!”
“Good, good, good, then just the girls,” the madam said with an apologetic smile. “Girls are so much better. Look at these girls – who knows which one will be fortunate enough to catch your eye?”
“I’m not the one choosing. Choose for her.” Cheng Suiyan’s chin pointed toward Shi Muyu’s direction.
The madam had already noticed that the girl seed unable to see. Now seeing Cheng Suiyan point toward her, the madam felt uncertain and asked again, “For whom?”
“For ,” Shi Muyu said. When she spoke, her voice was still soft and sweet.
The madam still couldn’t believe it. What kind of situation was this – a blind young lady choosing won in a brothel? Who would believe such a thing if told?
Fearing they might be planning so murder or arson, the madam asked carefully, “May I boldly ask what this young miss….intends to do?”
Cheng Suiyan was quite impatient, mainly because the madam’s powder scent was too strong, and she insisted on sitting beside him, which was rather choking. He asked Shi Muyu, “Will this madam do?”
Shi Muyu shook her head, “No.”
Then Cheng Suiyan pointed to the door and said to the madam, “Alright, you go out first.”
“I…”
“Don’t worry, we’re doing legitimate business and won’t get you in legal trouble.” After saying this, he took out another banknote.
The madam took the banknote and left with a beaming smile.
The madam had brought seven won, who were now all confused. Several had been pulled from their sleep and still had disheveled hair.
The seven won lined up in front of Shi Muyu for her to choose from.
Shi Muyu said, “Please sit down first. Let’s all chat together.”
The won looked at each other in bewildernt. The maidservants set out cushions and brought tea, and everyone sat down to drink tea and chat.
Shi Muyu asked their nas, where their hotowns were, and why they had co to ngliang City to beco courtesans.
The won answered one by one. So had been sold by their parents, so had been sentenced and sold by the authorities for cris, and so had been kidnapped by traffickers and sold into brothels, no longer rembering their hotowns.
Everyone frowned upon hearing this. Cheng Suiyan directly slamd the table, “How outrageous! How much would it cost to redeem your freedom?”
The prices varied for each person. The won answered one by one. Yun Qing and Cheng Suiyan both took out banknotes and distributed them to everyone. The won joyfully accepted them, repeatedly expressing their gratitude.
Then they continued chatting.
Shi Muyu asked about their usual interests, recited several poems for them to repeat, and asked several questions that tested their character.
After chatting casually for a while longer, the won beca increasingly relaxed and could even joke with Fu Xue.
A woman nad Xiangrui sighed, “If only we could serve guests like you every day.”
The other won laughed upon hearing this.
Another woman nad Liangxiao said to Shi Muyu, “Though you cannot see, young miss, you can distinguish our nas and voices clearly. Books say that Heaven takes away one thing but compensates with two others – this is truly so.”
Shi Muyu smiled, “I cannot see with my eyes, but I can see with my heart. Precisely because I see with my heart, I can see more clearly than those who use their eyes.”
Liangxiao nodded, “Young miss appears innocent and naive, but your words carry deep aning. Liangxiao has learned much.”
Xiangrui boldly asked, “Young miss, how did you lose your sight?”
This question aroused everyone’s curiosity. Yun Qing had wondered about this before but had never asked, fearing it might remind Shi Muyu of painful mories.
Shi Muyu said casually, “My mother blinded with poisonous smoke.”
Everyone in the room changed their expressions upon hearing this. What kind of vicious mother would be capable of such an act?
Fu Xue frowned and was about to speak when suddenly there was a commotion outside, followed by the wooden door being kicked open violently!
A tall man burst into the room, followed closely by the panicked-looking madam, and then two burly servants.
Yun Qing saw the newcor and couldn’t help narrowing her eyes.
It was none other than He Lanqing. It seed they were truly fated to encounter him.
As it happened, today was the county magistrate’s birthday, and He Lanqing had just gone to the county office to offer congratulations.
Recalling the beauty who had exchanged glances with him on the street earlier, he thought about her more and more fondly. Sowhat regretting not having struck up a conversation, this matter weighed on his mind, so he had no interest in drinking and watching performances. He had only drunk a few cups before leaving.
On his way ho, passing through Jade Street, he had stopped by Yixiang Tower to see his favorite, Liangxiao.
This woman was not only beautiful and talented but also gentle and agreeable, and her words always hit just the right spots. Therefore, He Lanqing had been quite taken with her recently and had specifically paid the madam of Yixiang Tower handsoly to ensure she served no other clients.
The madam hadn’t expected He Lanqing to arrive suddenly and was trying to use a delaying tactic to handle the situation. “Oh my, what timing! Liangxiao is sleeping right now. Let go wake her up. Please wait a mont, young master.”
But one of the little maidservants actually worked against her own interests, winking at He Lanqing and gesturing with her mouth toward a certain direction.
He Lanqing beca suspicious, and having drunk so wine, he stord over in a rush and kicked open the room door with the help of liquid courage.
…
After He Lanqing entered the room, he didn’t notice Yun Qing’s group. He only scanned the group of won in the middle, grabbed Liangxiao’s arm, and yanked her up!
Liangxiao cried out in pain, tears welling in her eyes.
He Lanqing held onto Liangxiao and questioned the madam. “Didn’t you say she was sleeping?!”
Liangxiao’s face was pale and she didn’t dare move. The madam was both nervous and forced to maintain her smile, her facial muscles trembling as they bunched together. She said:
“Oh my, she was sleeping just now! I had just sent a maidservant to wake her and help her dress up. She probably heard people talking and laughing in this room and thought you were here, so she ca to the wrong room.”
He Lanqing’s face darkened as he scolded Liangxiao. “I think you want to sleep with soone else! I’ve been keeping you with real gold and silver, yet you, you fickle whore, actually have a wandering eye – truly heartless!” After saying this, he suddenly raised his hand to strike Liangxiao’s face.
Liangxiao had tears in her eyes but didn’t dare dodge.
Yun Qing frowned and lightly patted the tea table. The tea lid spun as it flew out, and just as He Lanqing’s hand was about to touch Liangxiao’s face, the edge of the tea lid struck his wrist hard!
He Lanqing scread in agony and quickly grasped his wrist.
Crack—the tea lid fell to the ground and broke in half.
Liangxiao was released by He Lanqing. Her face was deathly pale as she tremblingly ran to hide behind Yun Qing.
Seeing He Lanqing attacked, the two servants shouted loudly. “This is rebellion! How dare you provoke soone from the He family!” They turned and called for more people to co in and arrest them.
The madam and those won scattered in all directions, leaving only Liangxiao trembling behind Yun Qing.
More servants rushed into the room, so carrying short clubs, so long sticks, and so even carrying stools, all looking fierce and ready to attack.
Jiang Baiyu didn’t even raise an eyebrow. With swift movents, he cast several immobilization talismans, freezing each of them in place while maintaining their aggressive poses.
The arrogant expressions on their faces were replaced by terror.
He Lanqing was so frightened he dropped to his knees. “Immortal, spare my life!”
The other servants also shouted in unison, and the room echoed with various pleas for rcy.
“He Lanqing,” Yun Qing called out his na.
Only then did He Lanqing look at her seriously, and he imdiately recognized her. “It’s you?”
Realizing that the woman he had been thinking about was right in front of him, he smiled. His peach blossom eyes stared straight at her with an intimate tone:
“You know my na? Ah, I still don’t know your beautiful na.” As he spoke, he even winked, his eyes flirting wildly.
Jiang Baiyu really couldn’t stand it anymore. Suppressing her murderous impulse, he quickly drew a talisman and struck him with it.
Yun Qing said calmly, “He Lanqing, you’re going to die.”
He Lanqing: “Woof woof woof woof woof woof woof woof!”
Yun Qing: “…………”
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