Thousand Dusts Ferry Me - Chapter 85

Jade Street was filled with brothels and businesses related to brothels, such as shops selling rouge and spices, wine sellers, medicine sellers, shops selling various implements, places that rented carriages and sedan chairs, and the like.

It was daytime now, and there weren’t many people on Jade Street. A few women 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 women 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 seemed he should be more concerned about himself.

Someone 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 men and three women arrive – the men handsome and the women beautiful, like immortals descending in a group – the madam felt somewhat puzzled. She cautiously approached them with a smile, saying, “Have you distinguished guests perhaps come 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 women from your establishment here.”

“Oh my, yes, yes, yes! Distinguished guests, please sit down and have some 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 arrangements of narcissus and orchids that bloomed in the daily warmth of the charcoal fire.

On wooden shelves sat several precious ornaments, 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 women, chatting and laughing.

The madam sat beside Cheng Suiyan and tried to push his arm, but seeing this handsome 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 me 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 men there are each more handsome than the last – some gentle and agreeable, some playful and cute, and some robust and mighty.”

Fu Xue couldn’t help saying, “The women of Mengliang City certainly know how to enjoy themselves.”

“Ha ha ha, Miss is joking. Those who patronize Nanfeng Pavilion are all men 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 mention Nanfeng Pavilion, he felt as if something filthy had attached itself to him, giving him goosebumps all over. He said irritably, “No men!”

“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 seemed unable to see. Now seeing Cheng Suiyan point toward her, the madam felt uncertain and asked again, “For whom?”

“For me,” 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 women in a brothel? Who would believe such a thing if told?

Fearing they might be planning some 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 women, who were now all confused. Several had been pulled from their sleep and still had disheveled hair.

The seven women 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 women looked at each other in bewilderment. The maidservants set out cushions and brought tea, and everyone sat down to drink tea and chat.

Shi Muyu asked their names, where their hometowns were, and why they had come to Mengliang City to become courtesans.

The women answered one by one. Some had been sold by their parents, some had been sentenced and sold by the authorities for crimes, and some had been kidnapped by traffickers and sold into brothels, no longer remembering their hometowns.

Everyone frowned upon hearing this. Cheng Suiyan directly slammed the table, “How outrageous! How much would it cost to redeem your freedom?”

The prices varied for each person. The women answered one by one. Yun Qing and Cheng Suiyan both took out banknotes and distributed them to everyone. The women 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 women became increasingly relaxed and could even joke with Fu Xue.

A woman named Xiangrui sighed, “If only we could serve guests like you every day.”

The other women laughed upon hearing this.

Another woman named Liangxiao said to Shi Muyu, “Though you cannot see, young miss, you can distinguish our names 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 meaning. 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 memories.

Shi Muyu said casually, “My mother blinded me 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 newcomer and couldn’t help narrowing her eyes.

It was none other than He Lanqing. It seemed 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. Somewhat 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 home, 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 handsomely 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 me go wake her up. Please wait a moment, 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 became suspicious, and having drunk some wine, he stormed 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 women 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 came to the wrong room.”

He Lanqing’s face darkened as he scolded Liangxiao. “I think you want to sleep with someone 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 screamed 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 someone from the He family!” They turned and called for more people to come in and arrest them.

The madam and those women scattered in all directions, leaving only Liangxiao trembling behind Yun Qing.

More servants rushed into the room, some carrying short clubs, some long sticks, and some even carrying stools, all looking fierce and ready to attack.

Jiang Baiyu didn’t even raise an eyebrow. With swift movements, 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 mercy.

“He Lanqing,” Yun Qing called out his name.

Only then did He Lanqing look at her seriously, and he immediately 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 name? Ah, I still don’t know your beautiful name.” 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: “…………”