Fifty thousand!
Fifty thousand to secure a courtesan for a month!
“Do you have any idea how much fifty thousand is?”
“A grand academician earns only a hundred a month. Even if you count every official in the imperial court, their combined monthly salaries wouldn’t exceed forty thousand.”
“Haha, if that’s the case, then all the court officials combined don’t earn as much as a single courtesan.”
Amid the uproar filling the hall, several elderly men seated on the second floor shook their heads in disapproval.
“Absurd, utterly absurd,” they remarked.
Before the words had fully faded, another wave of commotion erupted outside. Everyone craned their necks to look, only to see people running chaotically through the streets.
“What’s happened?” the crowd buzzed with questions.
“Hurry and see – the Cheng family is heading to Desheng Pavilion to demand their money back!”
The Cheng family demanding money back from Desheng Pavilion!
At this news, the whole street broke into an uproar.
“Strange things happen every year, but this year seems especially full of them.”
Sighing in amazement, the people in the teahouse immediately surged out, joining the crowd rushing to witness the spectacle.
“Absurd, utterly absurd,” the elderly men on the second floor shook their heads once more.
“Absurd!”
And at that very moment, inside Desheng Pavilion, Madam Mo was exclaiming those exact words.
“I’ve never heard of anyone demanding a refund for payment to a courtesan!”
“You’re nothing but swindlers!” several women shouted, their faces flushed red.
They hadn’t expected to draw such a large crowd. The boldness that had been ignited by the fifty thousand now completely evaporated.
How strange, they thought. If this had happened back in their hometown – like that time during the Fire God Temple festival when they fought over a spot – they had fiercely confronted the county deputy’s family without a hint of fear, even with just as many onlookers. Why had they felt more confident then instead of timid?
Was it because of the elegant official dialect spoken by everyone around them now? Or was it because of the woman standing before them – dressed in alluring, delicate garments, her age unguessable, every movement exuding a charm they had never seen before?
The women simply felt uneasy all over.
Hearing this, Madam Mo across from them covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Wrong,” she said. “We’re not swindlers – we’re sellers.”
The word “sellers” carried a wealth of implication. The men nearby who understood burst into knowing laughter, while the women turned away in disapproval.
“Madam, this matter is truly absurd,” Steward Cheng finally stepped forward. “It was our young lady and young master acting out of line – it shouldn’t be taken seriously. We beg you to return the money.”
Return it?
Madam Mo sneered inwardly.
“Really now, that’s quite the joke. How can you ask for your money back after you’ve already enjoyed the service?” she replied.
“But we haven’t enjoyed anything yet!” the steward retorted through gritted teeth, his eyes glaring.
“Our girls sell their allure. Just one glance is an indulgence in itself. Even if you gouged your eyes out now, you’ve already seen them – and that means you pay,” Madam Mo said with a light laugh.
“Who in their right mind would pay fifty thousand just for a look?” the steward shot back, growing agitated.
Madam Mo let out a disdainful sniff.
“You should take that up with your family’s young master and young lady. All I know is this: if you can afford to play here, you’re welcome. If you can’t, don’t bother coming,” she stated coolly. “And certainly, no one gets to enjoy themselves one night and come back the next day asking for a refund.”
Her words grew bolder by the moment. The crowd’s laughter swelled, and more onlookers gathered, until Steward Cheng could no longer hold his ground.
This woman was too sharp-witted!
They had originally intended to discuss the matter with her privately, but she hadn’t given them the chance – she had taken the dispute straight to the main hall and made it public!
This was truly…
“Let’s go, now!” the steward urged in a hushed tone.
Hurriedly, he led the women away, and they scrambled into their carriage amid waves of mocking laughter.
“Tell your young master my girl will be waiting for him,” Madam Mo called after them. Then, as if struck by a thought, she added with a chuckle, “But there’s no rush. Since Young Master Cheng injured his hand, he should take his time to recover. We’ll wait a month – and don’t worry, we won’t charge for that month.”
Her words drew yet another round of laughter from the crowd.
“Have you lost your mind? How could you go to that Desheng Pavilion and demand the money back?”
In the Cheng family residence, Second Master Cheng flew into a rage as soon as he heard the steward’s report.
“Have we not been humiliated enough?”
Second Madam Cheng sat wiping her tears.
“I am out of my mind!” she cried. “Anyone would go mad after throwing away fifty thousand!”
As she spoke, she grabbed Second Master Cheng’s sleeve.
“You serve in the Grand Court of Revision – why don’t you just arrest those scoundrels at Desheng Pavilion and get our money back?”
Second Master Cheng shook her off impatiently.
“This isn’t just about the money anymore – it’s about our lives and our future!” he snapped. “All you see is the fifty thousand, but haven’t you realized who they’ve offended this time?”
“It’s the Gao family!”
Pacing back and forth in agitation, he continued, “Yes, our family has become a laughingstock – but are we the only ones? Young Master Gao has been made an even bigger fool!”
“And who is he? He’s Young Master Gao! From the Gao family!”
Such a humiliating incident, all because of a courtesan – this is a stain Young Master Gao will carry for the rest of his life. No one would ever be able to swallow such an insult!
Second Madam Cheng stopped crying at once and looked up at him. He was right – this involved the Gao family.
“Master, this isn’t your fault. It’s all because of those two good-for-nothings stirring up trouble,” she said urgently. “You must go and explain everything clearly to Young Master Gao!”
Second Master Cheng’s face darkened.
“As Mother warned, disaster was bound to follow if we didn’t listen,” he said bitterly. “That jinx brings nothing but harm – to me and to our entire Cheng family.”
His expression then hardened with anger.
“Did you bring them back?”
“Master, the Zhou family refused to let us take them…” A servant by the door replied timidly. “They drove us out by force.”
Second Master Cheng flew into a rage and stormed forward.
“How dare the Zhou family defy me! Since when do they have the right to stop me from taking my own daughter? Let’s see how bold they really are!”
“Master, please – the Zhou family said if you show up, they’ll drive you out just like they did to us…” the attendant warned.
“How dare they! Is there no law in this land?” Second Master Cheng thundered – yet his steps came to a halt.
Second Madam Cheng quickly took hold of his arm.
“Master, when it comes to the Zhou family, the law hardly matters,” she reasoned. “In fact, it’s better if we don’t bring her back. It was the Zhou family who spoiled and indulged her – this is all their fault. You should hurry and explain this to Young Master Gao.”
That’s right – pin it all on the Zhou family!
Second Master Cheng nodded in agreement.
“You’re absolutely right. This is entirely the Zhou family’s doing,” he declared, turning abruptly. “Quick, fetch my outer robe. I’ll go at once.”
Second Madam Cheng immediately urged the servants to attend to him.
“And what about Si-lang?” she began.
Second Master Cheng halted in his steps.
“That wretched boy has brought shame upon us with his disgraceful behavior. I shall petition the court to strip him of his jinshi title,” he declared, his face dark.
Doing so would also demonstrate his sincerity in apologizing and making amends to Young Master Gao.
Second Madam Cheng nodded, her teeth clenched in resentment.
“Exactly. Let him taste the consequences of his recklessness,” she said.
“Someone prepare the carriage at once – I am leaving immediately to settle this,” Second Master Cheng said, his resolve firm and his impatience growing.
The steward rushed in from outside, breathless.
“Master, we can’t leave – the entrance is blocked,” he cried. “The debt collectors are threatening to take us to court if we don’t pay up soon.”
“Let them sue whoever they want!” Second Madam Cheng exclaimed anxiously.
“Madam! Those shops are under your name now,” the steward said, stamping his foot in desperation. “If they really take this to court, the authorities will seize the shops.”
Seizure!
“Absolutely not!” Second Master Cheng said firmly. “As long as we have the hen, it can still lay eggs. But if we lose the hen, we lose everything. We must protect those shops.”
“How?” Second Madam Cheng asked, then had a sudden idea. “What if we sell one shop to save the others?”
“Have you lost your mind? Sell a shop? Do you even know how much profit one shop generates each month? And you want to sell it? Haven’t we thrown away enough money already?” Second Master Cheng snapped, his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
“Then what should we do?” Second Madam Cheng replied.
Second Master Cheng turned his gaze toward her.
Second Madam Cheng shivered involuntarily and took a subconscious step back.
“Use your dowry to cover the emergency,” he said.
My dowry!
“H-how much is needed?” she stammered.
“About twenty thousand. There are seven or eight creditors outside,” the steward replied.
Twenty thousand!
Second Madam Cheng gasped sharply.
“I don’t have that much!” she cried.
Second Master Cheng grew impatient.
“Then gather what you can,” he said, his eyes falling on her vanity table. He pointed at it. “All those gold and silver jewels – if you sell them, they should fetch a decent sum.”
Second Madam Cheng turned in disbelief, staring at her jewelry boxes.
The three-tiered stand was packed full of them – carefully chosen pieces, some she hadn’t even worn once, others she had planned to pass down to her sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law…
“This will be the death of me!” she exclaimed.
…
“Absurd? Who’s really being absurd here?”
Old Master Chen finished his bowl of tea and set it down.
“Trying to compete with that girl in wealth? If she’s willing, there are people who would pay ten, twenty, even thirty thousand for a single human life. To her, money is probably like water – flowing in and out without a second thought.”
Chen Shao shook his head, taking the towel handed to him by a maid and offering it to his father.
“The absurdity lies in her behavior. Since when should a woman indulge her brother in such matters?” he remarked.
Old Master Chen chuckled.
“Precisely because of that – if even a young lady like her cannot restrain such actions, then others certainly shouldn’t be able to,” he said.
Hearing this, Chen Shao also smiled.
“I’ve come to realize something now,” Old Master Chen went on, raising a finger. “If you ever cross paths with this woman, there’s only one rule to remember.”
“Accepting a loss is a blessing in disguise.”
He smiled again at this point.
“However, acting on that is far easier said than done.”
…
Stopping before the hall entrance, the Imperial Consort straightened her attire once more before stepping inside.
“Your Majesty, this is a sweet soup I requested from the Empress Dowager yesterday. Would you care to try some?” she said with a gentle smile.
The Emperor set down the memorial in his hand and nodded, smiling as he gestured for her to take a seat.
“You’ve arrived a little late – Prince Ping just left,” he remarked.
The Imperial Consort acknowledged with a soft reply.
“He is grown now. If there is anything he can assist with, let him take on the tasks. Your Majesty must not overexert yourself,” she said.
“Being grown does not necessarily mean being trouble-free,” the Emperor replied.
The Imperial Consort’s heart skipped a beat. So he had indeed been reprimanded again – it seemed Prince Ping had once more provoked the Emperor’s anger severely.
“Prince Ping is rather dull by nature. I pray Your Majesty will continue to guide him with patience,” she responded.
The Emperor remained silent, setting down the sweet soup after only two spoonfuls.
“Go to the Empress Dowager now,” he said, rising to his feet.
The Imperial Consort hurriedly stood up as well.
“Your Majesty,” she began hesitantly, “have you heard… about the matter of Lady Cheng outbidding others for the courtesan?”
The Emperor paused in his steps.
“Has the Empress Dowager been informed?” he asked, then smiled faintly without waiting for a reply. “Word travels fast indeed.”
His temper had grown increasingly unpredictable lately – even his tone now carried a subtle sharpness.
“Your Majesty, that young lady’s behavior is truly…” the Imperial Consort started with a light laugh.
“Hasn’t she always acted this way? What is there to be surprised about?” the Emperor cut her off. “After several of her sworn brothers died, she dared to confront me directly. Now that her own brother has been injured, it’s hardly surprising she would go even further…”
He looked directly at the Consort.
“If it is absurd for a young lady to act this way, then isn’t it even more absurd for an official to stoop to competing with her?”
With that, he flicked his sleeve dismissively.
“I shall visit Consort An first. You may proceed to see the Empress Dowager.”
The Imperial Consort was left speechless, her face flushed with frustration as she watched the Emperor turn away, sweat beading on her brow from anxiety.
“…And he even rushed to complain first – such unmanly behavior…”
The Emperor’s muttered words drifted over to her.
With a sharp crash, an exquisite Guan kiln celadon tea bowl – priceless in value -shattered into pieces on the floor.
“His Majesty said that?”
Behind the low table, Young Master Gao’s expression was as fractured as the broken tea bowl, his teeth clenched in fury.
The servant standing before him trembled with fear.
“Yes,” he replied in a hushed voice.
No sooner had he spoken than another crash echoed through the room – Young Master Gao had overturned the table in front of him. He sprang to his feet, erupting in rage.
“That wretched Cheng family! That low-born Cheng scum!”
